LE T T E R S

E A R LY

OF

T H O MAS

CH ARLES

CA R LY L E

D I TE D
E

L I OT

V OL

BY

NO

RTON

1 8 2
4

iLa n U u u

MAC M I L LA N
AN D

AND

N E \V Y O

8 86

RK

CO

C O PY
1

BY C

H A R LE S

RIG H T

8 86

E L OT

N O R TO N

PR E F A C E
MR

CAR LYLE was fo r m any y ears espec ially

,

d uri ng h i s early m anhood an i ndustrious letter

,

wri te r

A great m any o f

h is

letters have been

preserved and are i n th e pos sess io n o f h i s n iece

M rs
t

A lexan de r C arlyle

I t is at h er des i re

hat I h ave u nde rtake n to ed i t a sel ect io n o f

them

E xpress b iograph y o f m e I had real ly

rathe r that th ere shoul d be none

said C arlyl e

i n h is W i ll and a b i ography o f h i m co rrect at

,

least i f m eagre

m igh t

erhaps
h
av
e
been
p

g athe red fro m h is l etters h i s

,

and th e
1

Re l/ 1 27123 6 6 226 6 5 ,

ondon

3
E

83

88

Lei /c ry

'

18

[ We i /z o n a l:

ff

R mm

n z s c m z cc s

Ca rly /6

LVc /s/z

me

edited by

roude

vols

a n

d I l a /11027 2115

y/

(m

'

e /s /t

Ca rly /c

ondon

PR E P/ l C

xI

M r F roude h oweve r though t oth e rwise and

.

has give n to the publ i c an

of him

exp ress b iography

Th e v i ew o f M r C arlyle s character
.

p resented i n th is b iograph y h as not approved

i tsel f to m any o f those who k new C arlyl e best

I t m ay be a st ri k i ng p ictu re but i t i s not a

,

good portrait

im p ra c

F o r the prese nt at l east it appears

,

t ic a

b le

to p repare anothe r form al b iography

T he pecul iar style o f M r

F ro u de

perform

an ce al ready i n possess io n o f the el d m igh t

,

perhaps pu t a po rtrai t o f C arlyl e d rawn by a

hand m ore faith ful to natu re a nd l ess sk illed i n
,

ne

a rt i c e s

than h is own

at a tempo rary

d isadvantage w i th the bul k o f readers

B ut i t

has s eem ed ri g h t to pri n t som e of C arlyle s

letters i n s uchw ise that w ith h is

R e m in isce n ce:

th ey m igh t serv e as a parti al autob iography

an d i llustrate h is character by u nques tio nabl e

ev idence
l
p e te

T hey do not i ndeed afford a co m

portrai t ; but so far as they go th e l i nes

w il l be correct

PR

E FA C E

v ii

T he earl ies t letters o f C arlyle that are

known to ex is t are those wh i ch he wrote i n
1

and the th ree o r fou r followi ng years

8 14

w h ile h e was at A n nan E d i nb urg h and K i rk

,

caldy

H e sel do m let a week pass w i thout

sending a letter ho me

not i nfrequently h e

wrote th ree o r eve n fou r to d ifferen t m embers

of h i s fam il y o n the sam e day

I hav e pri nted

a large number o f these letters i n S p ite o f the

sameness i n th ei r to ne an d top ics because of
,

the l igh t th ey th row upo n C arlyl e s character

d uri ng an i mportan t period i n h is i ntellectual
g rowth

and al so becaus e they are o f more

than pe rso nal i nte rest from the strik i ng illus

t ra t io n

they affo rd o f the s impler s id e o f

S cottish

l i fe

C arlyle s ch i ef co rrespo nde nts outs ide h is

own fam il y du ri n g the rs t years a fter h is

,

leavi n g th e

U n ive rs i ty were th ree colle g e

,

friends J ames J oh nsto ne

,

Thomas M u rray

Robe rt

M i tchell and
,

C arlyl e i n h i s late r y ears wri ti n g o f J oh n

,

vo r

. .

vi i i

PR

sto ne says
,

E FA C E
s ix

H e was

o r seve n years my

elder but v ery fo nd o f d iscours i ng w ith m e

,

and m u ch m y com pan ion wh ile we were i n

A n nandal e together w i th i n reach

poo r and

not a very gifted m an but a faith ful d i l ige nt

,

and accu rate

character

of qu ietly pio us cand id pu re

and ve ry m uch attached to m e

I n retu rn I l i ked h i m honestly well

l earnt

som ethi ng from h im (the al ways d il ige ntly

i n boo k matters ) ; perhaps ul tim atel y
exa c c

taugh t h i m som eth i ng

an d had great

sa

t is f
a c

t io n i n h is company (i n th e years 1 8 1 4 1 6 and

o ccas io nal ly afterwards )
M ai nly th rough the
-

efforts o f M iss Welsh (made for C arlyl e s sake )

he was i n 1 8 2 6 appoi nted P arish S chool master

at H ad d i ngton
1

837

h e d ied

w here ,

towards the e nd o f

M i tchel l was an A n nandale m an who upo n

,

leav i ng college had l ooked fo r w ard to becom ing

a m i n iste r i n th e S cotch K i rk

bu t l i ke C arlyle
,

he soo n gave u p th is o utlook an d h e becam e

,

and rem ai ned a school maste r

H e was for

PR

E FA C E

ix

some years tutor i n the fam ily of th e

H en ry D u ncan
was aft erwards
at

R uth well

of

R ecto r

K i rkcudbrigh t

D um friessh i re

M itch el l d ead

funeral

A ugust

and

C al ton H ill

I St

l atterly o ne o f th e

masters o f the E di nbu rgh A cademy

notes i n h is j ou rnal

o f th e G rammar S chool

and

Re v

C arlyl e

8 36

Poo r

b u ried w ith publ ic

E d i nbu rgh

many

thoughts I h ad sent towards h im

sa

but i n

s de n c e f

T hom as M u rray was a cheery k i ndly yo uth

H e became a m i n ister wrote a respectable

,

l i te rary h isto ry o f G alloway

was fo r a ti m e ed i to r of th e

h is

nati ve cou nty

E dz i z zci g/c LVe e /y

'

an d l i ved to a good ol d age

S till m ore i nteresti n g than these l ette rs

would h ave bee n C arlyl e s l etters to E dward

I rvi ng but i t i s bel ieved that th ey were de
,

s troyed afte r I rvi n g s death

A s to what use I m i g h t be j ust i fi ed i n mak

i n g of anothe r

s e rie s

o f l ette rs at m y d isposal

those from C arlyl e to M i ss Wels h from thei r

 rst acquai ntan ce i n

in

826

82

u ntil the i r m arriage

I hav e felt grave doubts

c o n de n c e s ,

of lovers are sacred

none ough t to v iol ate

Mr

T he l etters

whose sanct ity

F ro u de

u se of

these l etters seems to me o n general grou nds

unj ust iable and the moti ves he alleges for i t

,

i nadequate

B ut C arlyl e h imsel f h ad s tri ctly

forb idde n the i r pri nt i ng

L e fle m

i ng the
Ca rly le

mcl

W he n h e was ed i t

M e m o r ia ls

W els/c

of f

cm e

o f her lette rs to h im and o f h is to her

wh ich were wri tte n before thei r m arriage only

,

on e short no te from M iss Wel sh dated

,

tember

3d

S ep

pri nted by M r F roude (L ife i

could be fou n d ; th e rest were m iss i n g

8 2 5,

8
0
,
3

To the copy of th is short note C arlyl e appends

the wo rds
O rigi nal

al ly

in

I n pencil al l but the address

strangely saved

and found accid ent

on e of th e p resses to day

H ER

note

when pu t down by the coach o n th at v is i t to

,

us at
1
!

/z z s

H o dda m

Tl

la m a s

L if by J
e,

r ly le

Ca

H ill i n

S eptem ber

A H is t o ry

roude

ondo

f Ik e

o
n

825 !

Fir t E

882

ar

ly

H ow
Yea r

PR

E FA C E

mourn ful now how beaut iful an d strange !

rel ic to m e pricel ess (T C 1 2 t h M arch

A s to th e the n m iss i ng Letters written before
.

the i r marriage h is and M is s Welsh s C arlyle i n

,

the origi nal m anuscript from wh i ch th e copy

given to M r F roude was m ade says
,

strict com mand now i s

found
p

Le t

'

'

rz lz lz n

My

B u rn them i f eve r
,

n o th i rd party read them

let no

o f them o r o f any part of th em b e

,

e ve r though t o f by those who love m e

I decided not to open the parcel s co ntai n i ng

these lette rs

B ut I was gradually led by

many facts to th e conv i ctio n that M r F roude

.

had d is torted thei r s ign i can ce and had gi ven

,

a v i ew o f th e relat ions between C arlyl e and

h is futu re wi fe i n essential respects i nco rrect
,

and i nj urious to th ei r memo ry

I there fore

fel t obl i g ed to read these l etters wh i ch I have

,

done wi th ext rem e rel uctance and wi th rev

,

e re n

t ia

conten ts

respect fo r the sac red n ess o f th e i r

.

T he co nv i ct ion wh i ch determ i ned

m e to read th em was con rm ed by th e p e rusal

PR

EF A CE

T h e quest io n the n arose whether fu rther pub

lic a t io n

o f them was j ust iable fo r the sake o f

co rrecti ng the V i ew p rese nted by M r F roude

.

T he answe r seem ed plai n th at o nl y such o f

,

these letters o r su ch portio ns o f them as h ad

,

no t any spec i cally p rivate ch aracter coul d

righ tly b e pri n ted

I h ave therefore pri nted

comparat ively few o f C arlyl e s lette rs to M iss

'

Welsh wh ile i n an A ppend ix to V ol um e I I

,

have t ri ed to

se t

righ t som e of the facts m i s

represe nted by M r F roude an d to show h is

.

m ethod o f deal i ng w i th h is materi als

C HA RLE S E L I O T N O R TO N

A R

C M B I D G E, M

jzcly

A AC
SS

886

H U S ETT S ,

C A R LYLE S

M EM B ERS OF

FA M LY

J A M ES C A R LY LE (born at B w k w near E cc l efe c han

Au g ust 1 7 5 8 ; d i ed at S t b ig 2 2 d J anuary 1 8 3 )
married sth M ar c h 7 9 5 M AR GAR ET A I T K E N (born at
\Vh it t
K i rkmahoe D umfriesshi re 3 oth S e p tember
d i ed at S t b ig 5 th D e c ember 8 5 3
77 1
ro

co s

no
r

co s

e s a n e s,

e,

fo ll owin g is a Li st of thei r C h i l dren

T H O M A S born 4 t h D ecember
7 9 5 ; d i ed at C he l sea 5 t h
F eb ruary 8 8
A L E X A N D E R born 4 t h A u g ust
7 9 7 ; d i ed i n C anada 3 oth
M ar c h 8 7 6
J A N ET born d S e p tember 7 9 9 ; died 8 th F ebrua y 8
J O H N A K E N born 7 t h J ul y 8 ; died at D umfr i es 5 t h
S e p tember 8 7 9
M AR GAR ET born
t h S e p tember
8 3 d i ed
d J une 8 3
J A M E S born t h N ovember 8 5
M AR Y born d F ebruary 8 8
T hese sti l l survive
J A N E bo d S e p tember 8
J
uly
(
J A N ET bo n 8 th J ul y 8 3
The

IT

rn

01

1 2

0 1

20

10

2 2

E
Vol

pg
a

5 6,
191 ,

li

RRATA

5,

v c ti
Fr c

4:

e SO t e l IC ,

ne

3 , fo r

o n , rea

an

'

e s,

v c ti
Fr c i
o

on

an

C X O IC I IC
'

LE T T E RS
OF

T H OMAS

To

M r T HOM AS
.

C A R LY L E

C A R L Y L E , E di n b u rgh

F r o m h is F A T H E R
E

CC L E E C A N
F

1
.

Ap ril

8 14

D E A R S I R I rece ived you rs yesterday and

w a s v ery g lad to hear th at y ou were well and
was teach i ng fo r we d id not k now wh at to do
whethe r yo u were com i ng hom e or goi n g to
stop at E d i nburg h ; th e reason o f m e no t
wri tin g last t i me th e C arri er cam e out S andy
,

h is l ette r i s a pp arentl y the earliest that has been p re

served f the lon g corres p ondence between C arlyle and h is
fam i l y [M y F ather] wrote to m e duly and affect i onate l y
while I was at colle g e N oth i n g that was g ood for me d i d he
"
fai l w i th h i s best ab i l i ty to p rov i de
i 58
C ar l yle s next youn g er brothe r \Vh t
I)
T hom s M b
1

VOL

ll

E T TER S

0F

TH O/W A S

CA R L YL

1 8 14

was s u m mo ned about D r T hom s M ob ; he

was lib le d w i th th i rtee n pages o f paper wri tte n
about the bus i ness D r H enderson an d T o m
M i nto we re l ikewise s um moned and P eggy
K err ; there be i n g no p roof agai ns t S andy h e
o f cou rse was d ischarged from th e B ar D r
H enderson was ned i f2 0 and o n e mo n th s
i mprison ment ; M i nto 25 1 0 and two week s
imprison ment ; P eggy K err 5 5 We were all
i n co n fusion o n S atu rday gett i ng w i tnesses to
prove S an dy not gu il ty and after al l ou r labou r
the w i tnesses would not do without your M other
was the re also ; the n s h e had to get ready fo r
sett i ng off o n M o nday wh ich s h e d i d w i th
great d i f cul ty h av i ng to take J en ny an d Pe ggy
wit h her Y o u m ay th i n k whether that woul d
put u s pas t writi ng o r not T he C arri er i s fo r
com i ng off o n M o n day ; but I thought that
would not do for yo u [wh ich ] caused m e to
wri te th is i n th e m eanti m e and e nclose th is and
I w il l send you r th i ngs wi th th e C arrier I n
the meanti me I th i n k th ese two gu i n eas w ill

was and what share if any the boy S andy had i n i t there is
now no te ll in g
,

1814

TO

RO

BER T

[MI T CH

EL L

clear you A s I am i n has te I wi ll ad d no

more at present M ent io n i n you r nex t i f you
got the S i ngl e N ote wi th th e B ox etc
.

J A S CA RLY L E
.

II T O
.

M r R O B E RT M I T C H E LL
.

E DI

N BU R GH

Lin

l i t hg w
o

A p ril

8 14

D E A R M I TC H E L L Y o u are perh aps th i nk i ng

by th is t im e that I am sl ow i n answeri ng you r
l ong sol ic ited letter ; an d before go i ng further I
m ust beg pardo n an d plead th e t rite excuses o f
busi n ess i ndol ence etc e t c and let m e tel l
you you h av e been su ch a notorious o ffender
i n th at way you rsel f yo u can t h av e the im
u de n c e to m ake any com plai nts
p
\V ere I d isposed to m oral i se the re i s before
m e the nest el d that eve r opened to th e eye
o f m o rtal m an N a p l/ce m g/ M
wh
o
bu
t
a
y
few mo nth s a g o made the sove rei g ns o f E u rope
t rembl e at h i s nod ; wh o has t ram pled o n
th rones and sceptres and k i ngs and p riests
and p ri nc ipal i ties and powe rs and carried ru i n
and havoc an d blood and fi re from G i bral tar
,

LE T TER S

0F

to A rchangel N ap

TH O/W A S

t/ce

CA R L

M
/
g y
r

YLE

i s G O N E

814

TO

I wil l pl an t m y eagl es o n the towers o f

L isbon
I will co nquer E u rope an d c rush G reat
B ri tai n to the ce ntre o f th e terraqueous gl obe
I w ill go to E lba a n d dc co o/ cl u p i n
B u t yesterday and B o u ey m igh t h ave stood

agai ns t th e world ; now

no ne s o poo r to

do h i m re v re n c e
S trange says S anch o

Panza
v ery strange th i ngs happen i n the
boi l i ng o f an egg
A ll those ne th i ngs how
eve r and twen ty thousand others h ave bee n
though t an d sai d b y ev erybody who th i nks or
speaks upo n the subj ect an d s o I l eav e th em
H av i ng got out of th is rhapsody I now p ro
c e e d to con s ide r th e con te nts o f you r lette r
It
gi ves m e the s i n ce rest so rro w that you did n ot
accom pl ish that redoubtabl e u ndertak ing i n
wh ich you we re engaged
T here i s a real
.

it c hel l i n h is l etter (from Li nl i th g ow 9 th A p ri l ) to

wh i ch th i s is a n answer had wr i tten as fol l ows T h p assa g e
i s c hara c ter i sti c and shows his l ivel iness of s pi rit and h is

stud i ous bent F three or four days I was id l e ; but idle

ness i s the i nlet to every m i s c h i e f T h w i l dest notion that
ever entered i nto morta l man s brai n took such p ossession of
1

or

T O AI R

814

B ER T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

pl easu re atten ds those sam e castl es wh i ch all

o f us s o o fte n bu ild and though l ike th e b ase

less fabri c o f a v ision they m us t all d issolve

and l eave not a rack beh i nd st i ll there i s
e nj oymen t wh il e th e i ll us io n lasts
T he tri
sectio n o f an angl e by s impl e geom etry i s a
complete w ild go ose c /ccz se at any rate and i n i t
d isappo i ntm ents m ust be re lied
S til l you r
ach i evem en t (eve n had i t com e th at l ength )
was bu t l ike th e d rop i n th e bucket to som e o f
m y p roject ed explo its
T was but th e other
day fo r i nstance that I had got i nto a su re and
exped itious way o f bori ng a hol e righ t slap
souse dow n th rough th e cen tre O f the earth we
,

my p oor c rani um that I be l ieve it was as effe c tuall y deran g ed

by Leslie s G m l y as ever the val i ant K ni g ht of L M an c ha s
by A mad i s de G aul I n short I bel i eved i t was dest i ned for
me to solve the p roblem of the trise c tion of an an g le I ll not
te ll you how many solar revo l ut i ons were p erformed wh i l st I
was p ossessed w i th th i s M athemati c al fren y N eed I tell you
how l on g after m idn ig ht I watched m y armour of sca l e and
com p asses h ow often I bel i eved that I had w rou g ht the
dou g hty deed and secu red to m ysel f the a pp l ause of a wonder
in g wor l d T ruly I m ig ht be denom i nated the K n ig ht of the
R uefu l C ountenance whe n I returned to curse the hour in
wh i ch I u ndertook the des p erate enter p r i se I am now con
tent to read S har p s S m the B d Al i 1m l and even
the C f i / F ll]

eo

e r

on

ess o n

e ru

/ 1: ,

or

er

/ 15

LE T TE RS

0F

TH OAI A S

CA RL

YLE

18 14

i nhabi t and rece i v i ng po i nt blan k th e p ro duc

t io ns o f N ew Zeal and and the S outh S ea
A s I w ill b e i n E d i nbu r g h at leas t p a rz o f
the s um me r I can not but h ighly app rove O f
th e plan yo u proposed of send ing ou r essays to
be remarked o n by each other I t i s i mposs ible
that i t c o zclcl do any
and s i nce i t would
afford a very useful exe rcise a t lea st i t would
I am conv i nced b e a v ery protabl e way o f
carry i ng o n ou r correspo nde nce I shall ex
pe e t therefo re i n a few days to receiv e pe r
C arrier a paper o f you rs to pe ruse and dire c
t io ns how to proceed wi th regard to t i me etc
etc D o n t b e parti cul ar as to the choice o f a
s ubj ect a ny w ill do I t is ve ry l i kel y that I
m ay send yo u some M athem at ical th i ng o r
oth er seei ng I h ave got B o s s u t s s l o ry of
M a l/z e m a t z cs at th i s t i me wh ere perhaps there
may be someth i n g new to yo u and agai n I
stumbl ed th e other n igh t upo n a k i nd o f a n ew
dem on stratio n o f P ythag oras squ a re of l/z e
lcy o le n a se ; an d i f you do n t nd i t you rsel f
mos
t
l
ikel
y
yo
u
w
il
l
I
will
send
you
i
t
too
(
)
We need be at n o loss for subj ects l i terary
,

TO M R

8 14

B ER T

RO

III I T CH E LL

m etaphys ical m athemat ical and phys ical are

all before us I am su re th i s woul d b e a very
good way o f spe nd i ng part o f the s um mer ;
and yo u who are the p rojec to r w ill surely never
draw back from what you you rsel f proposed
and therefo re w ill n ot fa il to se nd m e you r
p roduct io n th e very n ext opportu n i ty
F i rml y had I resol ved o n the faith o f you r
recom m endation to read T/ca a cle a s and yo u
m ay bel i ev e m e whe n I declare that i t was not
fo r wan t o f exertion o n m y part that I h ave not
seen i t yet T h e truth is I am acquai n ted only
i n o ne ci rcul ati ng l ibrary and there T/z a a a e a s
has always bee n o ut
G etti ng a book from a
st range l i b rary i s a l ittle troubl esome and thus
expecti n g e ve ry day to get i t from that where I
am k nown I mad e no e ffort elsewhere H ow
eve r I w ill hav e i t read if p oss zl le befo re I
add ress yo u agai n wh ich i f yo u s ti ck to pro
m ises w ill not be l on g
B y the way yo u have heard o f D r J oh n
,

'

i ss J ane l t
IV
w p ubl i shed i n
by youn g p eo p le
1

a rs a

o r ers

h ig h fl own romance of T/ l
f
8 3 but st i ll i n 8 4 m uch admi red
'

Ia r a e zzs

L E TT

Leyden

E RS

T H O/H A S

OF

CA RL

YL E

I8 14

the u n fortu nate autho r o f S ce n e s of

I nf a n cy etc from (I bel i eve ) Roxb urgh sh i re
who wen t to I nd ia and m et an u nt i mely e nd
1

e y d en a sh e p h er d wai l s t h y fat e
A d S c o t l an d k n ows h e l o ss t o o l at e H OGG
L

Well i f I am not m uch dece iv ed you w il l

thank m e fo r transcrib i ng th e follow i ng poem o f
h is composed o n (Wel l i n g to n the n ) W e lle s le y s
v i ctory at A ssaye wh ile Leyden was i n I nd ia
I m et w ith i t i n m e Spy a k i nd O f period ical
th i ng p ubl ished the oth er year i n E di nbu rgh
,

rit o ns for th e b att l e o f A ssa y e ;

Fo t hat was a d a y
W h e n we sto o d i n o u r arra y
L i k e th e L i o n s m i g h t at b a y ;
b att l e wor d was C o n q u er or D ie
do

hout

An

u r

o u se ro u s e t h e c ru e l l eo p ar d fro m h is l ai r
W it h h is y e ll t h e m o u ntai n ri n g s
A d h is re d e ye r o u n d h e fl i n g s
A s arrow l i k e h e s p ri n g s
A d s p rea d s h i s c l u t ch i n g p aw t o r e n d an d tear
R

eyden d i ed i n 8
h i s memory is ke p t a l ive by S cott s
sym p athet i c b i o g ra p h y of h i m one of those b i o g ra p h i c a l
sketches wh i c h gi ve a h ig h im p ression al ike f its subje c t and
its author
1

1 I

TO M R

8 14

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

ELL

h en rst a a y d i b att l e fro nt we saw

F a as t h e e y e c o u l d gl an c e
T h M a h ratta b an n ers d an c e
O e t h e d eso l ate e x p anse
A d t h e ir stan d ar d was th e l eo p ar d o f M a l wa
B t w h en we rst e n c o u nt e re d m an t o m an
S u ch o dd s c am e n e v er o n
A g ai nst G ree c e at M arath o n
W h e n t h e y h o o k t h e Persian t h ro n e
M id t h e o l d b ar b ari c p om p o f I s p a h an
No
m b e d m i g h t o f l i v i n g m e n c o u l d tam e
g a ll an t b an d th at b ro k e
O
T h ro u g h th e b u rsti n g c l o u d s o f sm o k e
W h e n t h e vo lli d t h u n d er s p o k e
Fro m a t h o u san d m o u l d eri n g m o u th s o f l uri d am e

rr

nu

ur

ri to ns for th e b att l e o f A ssa y e ;

Y w h o p erish e d i n y o u r p ri m e
Y o u r ha ll owe d n am es su b l i m e
S ha l l l i v e to c ease l ess t i m e
Yo u r h ero i c wort h an d fam e s h a ll n e v e r die
S

hout

C an any th i ng be grande r ? w h a t / i re what

en er
f
I
th
ere
i
s
anyth
i
ng
i
n
ex
iste
nce
that
gy
surpasses th i s i t m us t be H ohe nl i nde n bu t
what i s l ik e H oh enl i nde n ? Tell m e i n you r
nex t what yo u th i nk o f th is piece
I s not
th i nk y ou
F rom a thousand m o u lde ring
m ouths o f l u rid flam e m is p ri nted som ehow ?
9
Would sm oulde ri n g do any bette r
,

E T TER S

OF

T H O IIA S

CA R L YL

18 14

D o not neglect to w ri te to m e im m edia tely

and send m e you r essay no m atter what about
Tell m e too how you come o n i n you r sermon ;

m i ne ( good easy m an ) is not l egi m and I

do n t k now whe n i t w ill bu t I h av e a long
year before m e t ill i t be requ i red
I have thus m y dear B ob sent you a sheet
lled w ith very close and smal l letters as you
desi red and whether there be anyth i ng i n it o r
no st il l it i s full P ay m e direc t ly I repeat it
M eant i me I am t ill I hear from you my dear
S i r you rs t ruly
T H O M A S CA RLY LE
,

H ave you read S hakespear ? I f you hav e

not then I des i re you read i t d i rectl y and tel l

m e what you th i n k of h i m wh ich is h i s m aste r

p iece H e is al ways excellent
,

T he followi ng passage from C arlyle s R e

m im sce a ces
vol i p 8 9 i llustrates the p re
ced i ng lette r and those wh ich im med iately
follow

was n ow th e wi nter o f 8 5 I ha d m y se l f b e e n i n
an d a b o v e a y ear a g o h a d d u ly q u i tte d
E d i n b ur g h C o ll e g e
i t ; h a d g o t (b y c om p eti tio n at D u m fries su m m e r 8 4 ) t o

It

T O AI R

8 14

RO

BE R T

[II I TCH E L L

i n A a n A c a d e m y w i th so m e
p ote n tial o ut l o o k o n D i v i n it y as u l t im at u m (a rura l D iv i n it y
S t u d en t v isiti n g E d i n b u r g h for a fe w d a y s ea ch y ear an d
d e l i v eri n g c ertai n
S ix y ears o f t h at w o u l d
b ri n g y o u to t h e ch u r c h g l as fo u r y ears o f c o nt in u o us
D i v i n ity H a ll wo u l d ; u n l u ck y o n ly th at i n m y c ase I
h a d n e v e r h a d t h e l east e nt h u siasm for th e b u si n ess (an d
t h e re wer e e v e n g rav e p r o h ib iti v e d o u b ts m or e an d m ore
ri si n g ah e a d ) b o th b ran c h es o f m y sit uat i o n at ly c ontra
di t o ry t o a ll id ea l s or w is h e s o f m i n e es p e c ia lly t h e A n a
o ne as th e c l ose ly a c t ua l an d th e d ai ly an d h o u r ly p ressi n g
o
m e w h i l e th e o t h er l a y t h eoret i c sti ll we ll ah e a d an d
p er h a p s a v o i d a b l e O e attra c t i o n o e o n ly th ere was i n
m y A n n a n b u si n e ss I was su pp orti n g m y se l f (e v e n sa v i n g
som e few p o u n d s o f m y p o or ,5 6 o r 7 an n u a lly a g ai nst a
rai n y d a y ) an d n o t a b u r d e n t o m y e v er g e nero u s fat h er an y
m or e ; b u t i n a ll oth er p o i nts o f v i ew I was a b u n d ant ly
l o n esom e u n c om fo rta b l e an d o t o f pl a c e t h e re ;
in
sh ort t h o rou g h ly d eteste d m y fu n c t i o n an d p o sit i o n th ou g h
u n d erstoo d to b e h o n est ly d o i n g t h e d u ti es o f i t ; an d h e l d
for so l a c em e n t an d c o m p an y t o th e few b o o k s I c o u l d
c o m m an d an d an a cc i d e ta l fri e n d or two I h a d i n th e
n ei g h b o u r h oo d (M C h u r c h an d h i s w i fe o f H itc h ill ; Re v
H e nr y D u n c an o f R u th we ll an d d itto ; th ese were t h e two
b ri g h t an d b ri g h test h o u ses for m e M y th an k s to th em
n ow an d a l wa y s
A s to m y s c h o o l m aste r fu n c t i o n it was
n e v er sai d that I w i i l i t m u c h ( a c l ear an d c orre c t
e x p osi tor an d e n forcer ) ; b u t fro m th e rst es p e c ia lly w ith
su ch dj t I d is l i k e d i t an d b y sw i ft d e g rees g rew to
h ate i t m o re an d m ore S o m e fo u r y ears i n a l l I ha d O f i t ;
two i n A n nan two i n K i r kc a l dy (u n d er m h i m p ro v e d
so c ia l a cc om p an i m e nts ) an d at th e
d m y so l itar y
d es p erate c o n c l u si o n was fx e d T hat I fo r m y ow n p art
M at hem at i c a l M ast e r

be

nn

e,

r
.

sn c

u n c s,

u e

en

12

E T TE R S

OF

CA R L

TH O/lIA S

YLE

8 14

wo u l d p re fer t o p eris h i n th e d it c h i f n e c essar y rath er t h an

c o nt i n u e l i v i n g b y su ch a tra d e an d p erem p tori ly g a v e i t
u p a cc o r d i n gly
,

I I I To M r
.

R O B E RT M I TC H E L L
M OU

N T A NN A N

8l

Li n

l i thg w
o

Od o m

8 14

D E A R M I T C H E L L \N he n I look at th e
date o f your l ast elegant and endeari ng letter
I feel a th rob o f som eth i ng approach i ng to
re m o rs e for
th e s usp i cio n o f i ngratitude an d
i nco nstan cy wh i ch y o u (i f yo u though t o f m e
at al l ) m us t h ave en tertai ned of m e fo r m y
apparentl y u naccou ntabl e ne g lect o f a corre
s o n de n c e wh i ch I had bee n th e rs t to sol ic i t
p
and the m os t eager to cul ti vate I hope how

eve r th at wh en you sh all hav e heard th e

story o f m y woes
th at i s m y h isto r y for th e
las t fou r m onths yo u w il l be ready to grant m e
you r fo rgi ve ness and to rece i ve m e o nce m o re
i nto you r good graces
S om e th ree o r fou r days afte r I recei ved
your l ucub rati o ns an advertisem ent appeared
i n the newspapers for a M athemat i cal T eacher
i n th e A n nan A cademy ; the place i s worth
MY

3)

TO M R

814

R O E R T [MI T CH

ELL

13

about 7 0 a y ear and i s respectable e nough ;

m y friends therefore were anx ious fo r m y
becom i n g a cand i date H av i n g been favou red
wi th a lette r o f recom m e ndat io n from M r
1
I did apply an d was i nform ed t hat
Lesl i e
th e cand idates m ust u n dergo a com parat ive
trial at D um fri es i n the cou rse o f a few days
a nd th at i n co urse I m ust repai r th ith er N o t
to d etai n yo u w i th al l the t rib ul atio ns and
heart b u rn i ngs I we nt th rough i t w i ll be s u f
c i en t to i n form y ou that I and anothe r man
h av i ng bee n exam i ned by M r Wh ite I was
preferred and tol d I must e nte r o n m y O f ce

7cer l cla
se e
T
h
is
you
was
qu
ick
wo
rk
but
y
you h ave not heard all Ge neral D iro m came
to res ide at M ou n t A n nan to wards th e e nd of
J une and t w o o f h is boys learn i ng G reek
Lati n an d M athem atics we re co nsigned to m y
care Y o u can co nce i ve the hu rry and trepida
tio n atte ndan t upo n obtai n in g and e n te ri n g
upo n a n ew s i tuatio n Y o u can concei ve m e
em i nent J oh n Les l ie Professor of M athemati c s in
Th
the U n i versity of E d i nburg h
T homas W h i te R ector of the A cademy at D um fries an
excellent mathemat i c i an
,

E RS

LE TT

I4

TII OM A S

OF

YL E

CA R L

1814

j us t th i nk i ng o f a subj ect fo r a re ve r ie fo r y o a r
perusal and a new engageme n t k nock i ng al l
m y re ve ries o n the head and tel l i ng m e that for
fou r m o nths I m ust l ead the l ife o f a [Mill
/co rse yo u can conce ive al l th is and can you
h elp pardo n i ng m e ? T he truth is scarcel y a
day these th ree m onths has passed ov er m y
head b ut I have reproached mysel f for in
grati tude to m y friend to the com pan io n of
m y stud ies m y speculations an d p erp e a clia gs
s
weet

a iz e l im es l ; and s trange as i t may

yg
)
(

P ro
seem every da y I h ave agai n fil l of
i s th e th ief o f t i m e and I am
c ra s t in a t io n
pers uaded that noth i ng but the fear of you r
qu itti ng m y co rrespo n dence i n d isgus t coul d
have a re a sea m e I hav e at l ength cle le rm ia ea
though i t were when I shoul d sleep to wri te
yo u an d here am I scri bbl i ng away at m id
n igh t your mos t hu mble servant
M y dear M itchell I entreat you to s a sz a ia
th is excuse for i ndeed no ne of th e c i rcum

stances are e xaggerated and to rest ass ured

that th e friendsh i p of a s o n o f g e n i us o f s i m ilar
pu rs uits of k i ndred sentim ents and congen ial
,

B ER T

T O [MR

8 14

RO

[MI T CH

ELL

spi rit w i th m ysel f is too h ighly p riz ed to be

eve n apparently negl ected e xcept upon th e
most imperious necess ity B el ieve m e I shall
be most u nhappy i f th is ex cuse do n t satisfy
you an d will com e u nde r any term s rathe r
than fo rfei t m y right to a l etter directly A fter
th is long preambl e you are not to expect that
I all ja ded as I am can even attemp t to a m u se
you th is bout b ut m y dear B oy send m e a
l etter i n form i ng m e that you are recon ciled
and I ll warrant yo u rece ive a letter full o f
u irk and o a clit
cov
ered
th
i
ck
and
th
ree
fold
q
y
w ith m i rth lz zcm o zcr W IT and th e sev eral othe r
appendages requ is ite for form i ng an u n e xc e p
t io n a b le m e rce a zc cl e le q a e i z ce e t cl e sp r it
b ut at
presen t t is ou t of the questio n to expect any
th i n g m o re sp i ri t ed than a la st w ill or m ore
w itty than a M e t/z e dzst t ra c t B ut l et m e get
fo rward as I m ay
I n seriousn ess you r M athem ati cal i nvest iga
tions are ex cell e nt Y ou r d emonst rat io n of the
property o f the ci rcle i s reall y neat (I at least
should th i n k so fo r o n read i n g you r e nu n cia
t ion I set to work an d b rough t out a dem on
,

'

16

E T TE RS

OF

TH OI A S

CA R

L YL E

18 14

o f the p roperty wh i ch I w a s both

d isappoi nted an d pl eased to nd the S A M E A s
Y O U R S ) : but i t i s th e trisection o f the a re that
I a dm ire ; i t is i ndeed a c u te ly and oe a a tzfa lly

handled
B ut thereby hangs a tale
I d id
not tell you th at whe n I left E d i nb urgh for
D um fri es I put you r paper i n my pocket and
wh ilst m y right worthy co m/a gn o n s de voy a ge
for
I
cam
e
i
n
th
e
M
a
il
fro
m
M
o
ffat
we
re
)
(
su nk i n pol i ti cs post horses farm i ng etc I
took ou t m y frien d s theorem and leav i ng the
base C l od hoppers to wel ter o n among d rai ns
and d u n g h ills and bullocks and balan ces o f
powe r I entered D um fries w no lly dise nga ge d
fro m s n ola n a ry M ings ; an d well nigh persuaded
that an angl e n /i t be trisected
I wen t nex t
morn i ng to b reak fast w i th M r Wh ite an d i n
th e course o f o ur conversat ion h appe n i ng to

m entio n the trisectio n of an an g l e

I h av e i n

my pocket said I
th e res ul t o f an i nge n ious
young friend and fellow student s attem pts o n
that subj ect
T is here
M r W had no
sooner cast h is eye upon you r d iagram than
starti ng u p and u tteri ng a wil dly accen ted
s t ra t io n

TO M R

18 14

B ER T

RO

[ MI T CH

EL L

17

aye l h e left th e room H e soo n d iss ipated

the m ystery by retu rn i ng w i th an arm ful of
d un aged m anuscripts ; he desi red m e to look
at o ne o f them and I w a s s urprised to s e e ta e
H
e
compl
ai
ned
b
itterl
y
that
s a m e p rop e rt
y
M r L e slie na d sno w ed it y o u an d never m en
t io n e d nis nam e !
I assu red h i m that i t was

an origi nal o n you r part ; bu t i n v ai n

Tis
imp oss iole f
was h is reply : I coul d not b ut
feel rather v ai n that I had a fri end wh o had
found out p roperties o f wh i ch a v eteran l i ke
Wh i te was proud
B y th e way coul d no t we th i nk you co ntri ve
to conti nue th is m ode O f i nterch angi ng ou r l ucu
T i s a p roj ect I l i ke vastly and from
b ra t io n s
wh i ch I had p rom ised mysel f m uch i nstruction
as wel l as e ntertai n ment I h ave o n h an d (I
S houl d rath er s a y in Izea d) an explanatio n o f
th e ra in bo w to g ethe r w i th som e other oa ga
te lles wh ich I coul d sen d you if I coul d th i n k
o f any m ode o f con veyan ce C oul d you dev ise
n o pl an o f re g ular com mu n icatio n
I n W i nter
at l east the y could be conveyed to an d fro m
E d i nbu rg h fre e of exp e n se i n som e ho nest
.

VOL

L E T TER S

18

TH OM A S

OF

CA R

L YLE

8 14

studen t s box Le t m e h ave you r ideas o n the

subj ect O u r college com rades hones t D a vie
and th e so n of ca t ga t whe re are they
I had
a h i nt and o nl y a h i nt that D av ie had beaten
h is fo rc eps i nto fitc/i
fo r/es and h is sca lp els
lz o o s that is to say h ad com
i n to p ru n i ng
?
m e n c e d plough m an
P ray tell m e is i t t rue
A n d has A nd rew qui tted C orstorph i ne
.

'

What B ooks hav e you been perusi ng ? and

how d id you l ike S hakespeare ? S i nce I s a w
yo u I h ave to il ed th rough m any a th i ck octavo
m any o f th em to l i ttl e pu rpose
B y ro n s
and S cott s Poe m s [I have read ] an d must
adm i re though you recollect w e used to give
C ampbel l a d ec i ded preference and I still
th i n k with j usti ce
H av e you ever see n
H o o le s Ta sso ?
I h ave among m any oth ers
2
read it L e o n ida s th e Ep igo n ia d Ooe ro n
S avage s Po e m s etc
M iss Porter s S co tt is/c
C/ciefs and W a ve r ley h av e been the p ri ncipal
A ha pp i ly for g otten E pi c by a S c ot c hman D
W i ll iam
H ume p rofessed g reat adm iration for i t and C ar l y l e
W i lkie
m ay have read it as a p atrioti c duty
2 D oubt l ess S otheby s version
f VVi l d Ob

'

e an

e ro n

TO M R

1 8 14

BE R T

RO

[MI T CH

ELL

19

o f my N ov els W i th regard to VVa ve r/ey I

cannot h elp remark i ng that i n m y O pi nio n i t is
the best novel that has bee n publ ished th ese
th i rty years
T h e C haracters o f E beneze r
C ru ickshanks m i ne host o f th e Garter the
R everen d M r G o u k t h ra p p le an d S qu i re B rad
w a rdin e d ispl ay a C ervant i c ve i n o f humou r
wh ich has seldom been su rpassed wh ilst th e
descript ions of the gloomy caverns of the
H ighlands and the del i neations o f th e apath ic
C all um B eg and e nterp ris i ng V ich I an V o h r
show a rich ness o f S c o t t e a n colouri ng wh ich
few hav e equal led G i ve m e you r opi n io n o f
i t i f you hav e read i t and i f not e ndeavou r
by all m eans to p rocure i t
M y se rmo n is pretty m uch i n th e same style
as you rs w a s at th e date o f y ou r last letter
w ith th is d i ffere n ce I do n t k now qu ite so wel l
i n what part o f the B i ble i t is M y senti me n ts
o n th e C le rical p rofess i on are l ike y ou rs mostl y
of the u n favourable k i nd
\Vh e re would be
.

was p ubl ished i n 8 4

N ot of the
G arter but of the S even B ran c hed G o l den
C andlesti c k
1

ly

a ve r e

20

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YL E

18 14

th e h arm shoul d we both stop

T h e best
co ncerted sche mes 0 m ice an m e n gang aft
aglee !
I i nte nded to have said someth i ng o f
the b igoted sc epti cism o f H um e bu t as I am
co nv i nced yo u s e e t h rough h i s specious soph isms
and detect h i s bl i nd p reju dice i n fa vo u r of
i ndel i ty I sh al l defe r i t A t any rate I hav e
not room and therefore m a st wait
N ow m y dear B ob let m e s e e you beh ave
as yo u ough t and sen d m e a lo n g letter and I
prom ise i t sna ll be answered pu nctually i f I
keep my heal th
I n sooth I shal l expect an
answer to th is Cna os o f a l etter (wh ich hurry
etc an d your good nature wi ll excuse ) wi th i n
fourtee n d ays from the date hereof ; s o be
pu nctual
P ray do wri te m e di rectly an accou nt of al l
you r transactions adventures m is fortunes loves
and hates I am close upo n the bottom of m y
sheet otherwise I would s a y som e n e tning on

the C harms o f F riendship ; but I trust m y

dear M i tchell w e c a n ooze fee l the j oys aris i ng
from the com merce o f k i ndred senti men ts and
congen ial m i nds
,

TO M R

18 14

B ER T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

21

D i rect to m e at A n nan A cadem y q u ick

N eed I add how s i ncerely I am m y dear
M it you rs
T H OM A S CA RLY L E
.

I V To M r

R OB E RT M I T C H E LL R t hw ll M n
u

M OU

N T A NN A N

2 4th

October

8 14

se

M Y D E A R M I T C H E L L N oth i ng could exceed

my pl easure at rece iv i ng you r O bl igi ng and e m

I hope how
t e rt a in in g though laco n ic ep istle
ev er I need not tel l you that the foo lisnn ess o f
you r letter was not th e cause o f m y long s ilence
Y ou should k now enough o f m e by th i s tim e
to be aware that you r l etter was al togethe r
accord ing to my heart and fancy
an d acco rd
in gly I had the other day wri tte n a righ t
dolorous and woe b e go ne m em o rial i n wh ich
I h umbl y showed that I had been ove r head
an d ears i n bus i ness that adven tu res and
m isven tures and trial s and t ri bulations had s o
crowded upo n m e th at m y s a p and substance
was ev apo rated ; I represented but what
matters what I rep resen ted s i nce wi th all i ts
.

22

E T TERS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R L

YL E

18 14

stai ns and blotches o n i t you will assu redly s e e

it after i t shall h ave perform ed t/ze t o u r of
S co t la n d for (O l uckless m an ! ) i t was sent o ff
to L i nl i thgow l ast Wed nesday exac tly the day
before I heard from L ittle J oh nso n (C o rrie )

S a y sh a ll
that you had com e to Ruthwel l !
th i ne anger th en abate upon cons ideration o f
egregiou s i nk shed
S o A ndrew is st ill at Gogar I j o i n righ t
heartil y i n your short b ut ferven t peti tion fo r
h is consolation D av i e and I after convoy i ng
you
th
at
day
on
you
r
way
to
L
ithgow
[ ]
struck across the elds and pai d h i m a v is i t
and after cons iderabl e trouble were adm itted
i nto h is gro tto o r c a ve rn o r C RU I
T h e m ost
considerabl e of h is movabl es were a chai r want
i n g a back a j o i n t stool e igh t potatoes and
a p o t of ori m st o n e : b ut to give you any i dea
o f th e s ituation and contours o f th is den to
represent to you the stern and doughty appear
ance of i ts i n nocen t i nhab i tant m uch more to

m ake you se n s iole o f the ra n co ro u s com

pound of v illai nous smells that o n all s ides
S t y ho g p en
,

BE R T

T O [MR

8 14

RO

M I T CH

ELL

offended nostril is i mposs ible

e n se m ole was dank and d reary and
,

23

T he

t on t

D r k as was C ha s
a

01

t h e in fant S was o ll d to g et h e r
ha d tri e d h is b e am s ath wart th e gl o o m p ro fou n d

e re

u n

A nd yet A ndrew good easy m an ! sh ruggi ng

up h is shoulders tol d us lz e w a s living li e t/z e
a n c ie n ts
W ith al l h is odd i ty h e is a good
honest lad A n d D av ie too ! Well peace be
w ith ye good k i nd hearted souls l
C l i nt poor m an hath taken u n to h i msel f a
w i fe an d at th is t im e sojou rneth i n the ancien t
burgh of Loch maben H il l i s at M iddleb ie i n
no ;
and J ames J oh nstone is lately re
s ta t n g
turned from th e S el k i rk hal l
A las ! poor
creatures we a re a ll d ispers ing towards the

fou r w i nds o f heav en and em bark i ng o n l i fe s

wide ocean and h o w shal l we each steer h is
l i ttl e bark th rou g h all the shoal s and hu rricanes
that l ie before u s where so m any statel y Gall ies
h ave foundered o n th e passage ! T i s a bleak
look out m y dear M i t but thou g h the greasy
so n s of p a dding may pass us by w i th al l the
of
beings
of
a
h
ighe
r
and
a
n it
c o n s c io u s d
ig y
,

'

:4

E T TERS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

1 8 14

o
rder
ye
t
however
h
um
bl
e
be
ou
r
lot
f
t is com fortable to th i nk that
a

t te r

p ro p osi t i v iru m
i i m ar d or p ra v a j b ti m
lt
i t t i t y ran n i
M e nte q t it s l i d a

J u st u m
No n

e t te n a c e m

c v u

No n

vu

u s

ns an

fra c t u s

u a

Si

en

illa b a t u r

or b is

Im p a vidu m fe rie n t

ru

in ae

B ut truce ! wh i the r am I ru n n in g ? let us qu i t

mo ral is ing
I f eve r yo u rece i ve th at foresai d s tray
epistl e you will s e e that eve n wh il e I though t
you at Li nl ithgo w I had not qu itted the plan
of i nterchanging th e resul ts of ou r speculations
an d yo u may easily i magi ne I wil l not re
l i n qu ish m y expectat ions O f you r co ncurrence
wi th m y p roposals now tha t you are w ith i n
s even m iles o f m e I n truth I th i nk i t coul d
not fail of bei ng advantageous and en tertai n i ng
to us both What do y o n th i n k of i t ? H ave
you any arti cles of the sp in ora in m anu factu re
by you at presen t ? For m e poor soul I hav e
been kept l ike u nto a cock
o n a spi t these fou r
m o nths w ith hardly t im e to breathe m uch less
to t/z in lz Take an i nstance I am at th is
,

TO M R

18 14

"

M I T CH

1203 5 132

ELL

25

col d storm y m idn igh t sc ra tcning and

wri ti ng what I at times th i nk yo u w ill co ns ide r a
l etterwith a n ose sav i ng th e m ark I daresay
as blue a s i ndigo and I do s a y as col d as an
i cicl e with the consol i ng re ection howev er
that when I do get to bed I sh al l not be dis
H ow can I
t u rb e d t ill s ix i n the m orn i ng
t /z in ?
B ut let not th is i nterrupt yo n r com
m u n ic a t io n s ; Ge neral D iro m w il l be a way i n
th e cou rse o f fou r weeks o r s o and the n I
shal l hav e m o re t im e
M r D uncan left M ou n t A n nan th is mo rn
I ng ; and h av i ng i nv i ted m e to R uthwel l

M anse you m ay expect to s e e m e i n the

course o f a week o r two some S aturday after
noon when m y dear B ob we shall tal k ove r
our oyga n e da ys 0 a u ld la ng sy n e and perhaps
h ave anothe r bou t at PE RPE N D I N G T uesday
m ust b rin g m e a letter b rim ful of all th ings
o r else fo r now
are
i
n
debt
u
m
L
e t me
o
y
y
h ave al l you r theo ries and t rials a nd t e m p t a
t ions and hypotheses A re yo u d isenga g ed o n
S atu rdays ? fo r i f I shoul d come o ut and n d

you B ut lo ! I am at th e bottom o f m y paper

present

26

E T TERS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

181

and right fortunate is it for both for i n sooth

s o cold and l ies tle ss
am I in a short t im e
I S hould have been absol utel y preach i ng I
w ill not ask you r pardon for th is motley
farrago rej o ice i t is not worse Write m e as
pu nctual ly at th e day appoi nted as pu nctually
as it is i n h uman nature to write pass not
senten ce o f excom mu n icatio n o n m e and be
assured I remai n m y dear old M i t you r
s i ncere friend (and sem i frozen servant )
1

T H OM A S CA RLY L E

To M r

R M I TC H E LL R t h w ll M
A

NN A N

I I t /z

a n se

ja n zca ry

815

M Y D E A R M I T C H E LL I must se nd a cover

to a long farrago of stu ff and i n orde r to save

appearances and to avert the d i re threats o f
bonds and imprisonment w h ich you s o l iberally
deal out i n your last letter I have s a t down to
give you an accou nt of my l i fe and con versa
t ion s i nce I s a w you last N oth i ng m aterial
,

p irit l ess inert

,

TO M R

815

BER T

RO

M I T CH

EL L

27

happened to m e i n town after your parti n g from

m e and except purchasi ng Campbel l s Poe m s
and transact i ng qu e lq u es p e t ite s a a ires wh i ch i t
is needless to trouble you w ith and gett i ng my
l ungs well n igh suffocated with the fo a l a ir and
th e tymp a n n m of m y ears nearly torn to p ieces
wi th th e war whoops o f th e E d i nburgh H ogm a
na
n
ight
I
m
ight
have
been
sai
d
to
be
station
y
ary O n S u nday morn ing I left E d i nbu rg h o n
the outside of the coach l ike you i n the gayest
h umou r i n the world but before rid i ng hal f a

doze n m iles the b iti ng breezes o f the E ast

be g an to d isturb me and notwi thstandi n g the
con sol ation I derived from a shaggy greatcoat
and from compari ng the dre a d n o ng/z t appear
ance o f our guard (who to a natu ral obes ity of
body alto g ether hyperbol ical had added the
adventi tious aids o f 2 7 3 8 5 cub ic i nches o f sol id
cloth an d leathe r i n the form of a tremendous
i mpenet rabl e roquelau re an d su rmounted the
whol e o f th i s terror stri k in g ap p aratus w ith an
awful broad b rimmed hat d isplaci n g as he
stood not less than twelve sol id feet of ai r) with

The

l ast day of the year

LE T TE RS

28

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

1815

the p i ti ful woe worn v isages of two fellow

t ravellers whose l i vi d noses and rattl i ng teeth
p roclai med (one would h ave thought ) that the
hour of thei r d issol ution was at hand n o t w it h
standi ng al l th is by the t im e we reached H ai r
stanes I was right thankful to ge t i ns ide o f the
"
leathern co nven iency where I conti nued all
the way to M offat I m ade sh i ft to fall i nto
a k i nd of t o rp o r wh ilst travell i ng dow n the
T weed a t least to shut my eyes upo n the
bleak and barren u n i form i ty o f i ts ash grey
h ills t ill o n ou r veh icle s s uddenly stopp i ng I
th rust out my head and descried Tw eed S na ws
R ecollecti ng your and my horri d C i rcumstances
a fe w days before I coul d not help s ilently
ej aculat ing a fervent p rayer that I m igh t n e ve r
agai n be u nder the necess ity o f pass i ng a n ight
i n the res idence of the me n of T i nwald nor O f
ev er pass i ng anoth er i nstan t of my existence
1
w ith the RE D C U DD Y of M o ffat B ut my paper
i s al most do ne and only hal f m y j ou rney com

B
rief
therefore
will
I
be
I
left
l
e te d
p

M offat at m i dn igh t i n the Glasgow mail and

-

Ca ddy ,

dimi nutive of C uthbert

ja c kass

TO M R

815

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

ELL

29

h av i ng arrived at hom e at about four o clock

p roceeded to A n nan on T uesday m orn i ng safe
and sound after all my perils and tribulat ions

I f you can d raw any so u l co mfo rt ing reec

from th is m uch good m ay they do you
t io n s
and m eantim e I rem ai n your (servant to com
mand
T H O M A S CA R LY LE
.

o clock T hursday morn i ng

VI

TO

M r R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
.

NN A N

5 t/z M a rc/z

M Y D E A R B O B A t sundry t imes

se

815

and i n
d i vers ways I have pon dered upo n a proj ect I
had formed o f se nd ing yo u a lette r to arouse
you i f poss ible from the state o f torpor i n
wh ich of late to m y u nspeakabl e re g re t you r
facul ties we re benumbed Y o u are obl iged to
m e for m y i nte ntio ns and though tri bulations of
various sorts h ave preve nted m e fro m putti ng
them i n execution yo u are no t the l ess obl iged
o n that accoun t Y o u are a happy fellow M it
to be allowed to s i t u nde r yo ur v i ne and u nde r
,

LE T TER S

3o

0F

TH OM A S

CA R

L YLE

815

you r g tree qu ietly rum i nati ng o n you r th i rty

n i ne articl es with no ne to make you afraid
A nd ho w could you be s o cruel as to m entio n
those h eart
break i ng d i scourses ?
H ow o r
w hen o r wherewi thal are they to be made l
I n sob riety that p u tt ing 017 and that diss ia t io n
t
A
thousand
t
im
es
u die s is a serious ev il
o
s
f
have I lamented th at hop S k ip and j um p dis
pos i tio n o f m i ne wh ich is perpetually p rompti ng
m e to y off at a tangent fro m wh ateve r I am

engaged i n
Y ou r
au ricular confessio n
owns the sam e propens ity ; an d I begi n to
th i nk i t is a faul t o f e ve ry m i n d wh ich effort
alone can cu re I co ul d be m e tap /iys ica l per
haps but you w ill be better satised wi th an
exampl e : I t was but yestern ight that I your
most obed ient servant became all at o nce
sens ibl e o f t/z e imp o rta n ce of p rese n t t im e and
h av i n g brough t out m y a cco u tre m e n ts s e t righ t
dou g h tily to the com pos i tio n of m y E oceges is I
began w ith alacri ty of soul and had n ished the

a
fourth l ine when I m ade
dead hal t ! O n e
can not long be idle you w ill not wo nder that
I took u p the rs t book that came i n my way
-

TO M R

1815

B ER T

RO

M I T CH

EL L

31

and though i t was the dullest o f all dull books

yet by a fatal ity attendant on those th i ngs I
coul d not give i t up I t purported to be a

h istory o f a lover show i ng h ow C ecil ia

som
ebody
bei
ng
poor
but
honest
went
to
)
(
P aris wi th som e B ran dy I rish D owager (of
T ipperary ) and was m uch astounded at thei r
go ings on yet v ery m uch l i ked by the oea u x
S howi ng how after d ivers trials and temptat ions
s h e married w i th a lord
someth
i
ng
who
had
(
)
bee n a very great rascal i n h i s early days bu t
was now become a most delectable perso nage ;
how they l ived i n great harmon y o f souls ti ll
the hones t man rid i ng o ne day o n som e wold
and happe n i ng to fal l fro m h i s beast i n p resence
o f th is notabl e l ady she fel l i nto hysteri cs o r
co nvuls io ns and was take n hom e i n a woeful
pl ight where s h e lo i te red o n t il l S he was

brou g h t to bed wh e n s h e took h er leav e o f

the g ood man and al l the wo rld Woul d you
bel ieve m e I read and read th is h orrid sto ry
an d m i g ht h ave bee n read i n g y e t had not a m os t
dolo rous ode to M at ri m on ial n o M o nod y on
th e d eath of a bel oved etc com pel led m e to
,

LE T TERS

C2

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YL E

1815

th row pas t the book and s e t to wri ti ng yo u a

letter
T ell m e not agai n of J acks O f all
t rades you are a K i ng of a studen t compared
w ith m e
Y ou are charitable e nough to suppose that
m y head is ful l O f i deas ; you r g ood natu re
m isleads you
I have i ndeed had ideas and
strange o nes too s ince I wrote you ; but l i ke
many other remarkabl e i deas th ey h ave h ad
the fortune to evaporate as soo n as produced
M athemat i cs I hav e absol utely never though t
o n ex cept i ng som e t rie s from the L a dies a n d
Ge n t le m en s D ia ry wh ich I shal l h ave co n
scie nce enough not to t roubl e yo u w ith at
present G reat and m an i fol d are th e books I
have read s i n ce I s a w you Y o u recom mended
Tlz a dde u s of W a rsa w long ago yo u m ay re
m ember and the work i n m y j u d g m ent fully
deserves it
M iss P orter has no w i t s h e
i nvari ably bu ngles a p ictu re O f the co nve r
satio n of ord i nary perso ns whe never s h e
attempts i t
Why does s h e del ight i n u n
fol di ng the forward weak nesses o f the fe m a le
h eart and m ak i ng e v e n M ary B eaufort lov e
,

1815

To

MR

R o E E R T M I T CH E LL

33

rst ? Y et w ith al l her dec iencies s h e is

i nterest i ng : n ever fail i ng to exci te ou r sym
pathy though S h e can not rank wi th our
F i eld i ngs or S m o lle t t s S he i n n i tel y s urpasses
the i ns ip id froth o f
,

The

m o b o f G e n t l e m e n w h o w ite w i t h e as e
r

A s an extraord i nary i nstance o f perseverance

I m ust m e nt io n m y hav i ng read C ice ro de
1
O i c iis
Y o u m ust read i t too B ob ; you will
get th rough i t i n a week an d can not thi n k
your ti m e m isspent
I t co nsis ts O f l etters
add ressed to h is s o n and i f we com pare the
steady affectionate u nbend i ng precepts o f th e
venerable Roman w ith the o nly work o f a
s im ilar k i nd i n ou r o wn t i mes C/Ieste r e ld s
,

ar l y l e seems to have been readin g a g ood dea l i n C i c ero

about th is t i me I n a l etter wr i tten i n A p ri l f th i s year to

T
M
h is friend homas urray h e says B ut the book I am most
p leased with is C i cero d F i ta ; not that there is mu c h new
d i scuss i on i n i t but h i s manner is so easy an d ele g ant ; and
bes i des there i s such a harm c onnected with attendin g to the
feel in g s and p r i nc i p l es of a man over whom the tide of years
has rolled W are entertai ned even w i th a common sent i
ment an d when we meet w i th a truth wh i ch we ourse l ves had
ly discovered we are del ig hted with the i dea that
p w
m i nds are s i m i lar to that of the venerab l e R oman
1

ns

re

ou s

ou r

VO L

34

A dvice

E T TER S

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

18 15

we shall blush fo r the eightee nth

centu ry !
B ut th e most extraord i nary productio n o f
any I h ave seen these m any days i s L a
Pu ce lle d Orlca n s an E p ic by V ol tai re
T h is
M ock H e ro i c illustrates several th i ngs F i rs t
th at the F rench h el d V ol tai re a sort of dem i
god ; seco ndly (and consequently ) th at they
were wrong i n s o do i ng ; an d th i rdly that the
said V ol tai re i s th e m ost i mpudent b la s p h e m
i ng l ib id i nous bl ackguard that ever l ived A s
p roof o f the rst take th e followi ng speci me n
of F ren ch i nge nuous ness from th e preface by
th e E d i to r A fter af rm i ng that th e poem i s
V ol tai re s he observes that P erson ne n a t l a
dupe du de sa v e u qu il a fai t d e c e p o em e dans
u ne lettre a M ess ieu rs de l A c a d m ie F ra n ga ise
Tou t
S a v raci t e s t co n n ue depu is longtemps
le mo nde S ca it q u a f rm e r o u n ier selo n l es
temps l es l i eu x l es co nve nances fut touj ours
u ne d e s e s m ax i mes favorites ; e t e n v rit u n
hom m e auss i extraord i nai re do i t b ien avo i r des
p ri ncipes qu i l u i soie nt propres
H appy great

man ! P eace be to h i m and h is pri ncipes qu i

,

8 15

MR

To

RO

B ER T

l u i so ient p ropres !
remarks

M I T CH

EL L

A n ep igram m atist sagely

est du V o l tair e e t to u t est b e au

ol p lze
T o u t pl ai t ch e l u i j sq
C

35

u au

n ze

as

T o il lus trate th e th i rd propos i tio n take any

part O f th e poem it is i n n i tel y i n ferio r i n
po i n t o f w i t to H u diora s yet were we n ot
conti nual ly shocked with som e i ndecen t v ic ious
o r pro fan e il lus ion i t woul d no t b e un e ntertai n
i ng T here i s a descript io n O f th e T em ple o f
F ame someth i n g i n th e S pi rit o f S wi ft wh ic h
I would se nd h ad I room T he followi ng [i s
a] ne w represe ntat io n o f th e m iseries o f th e
b u ilders of B abel
,

S itOt q u
Pla t re

u n

ou

d eux

b o ire d eman d ai t
d a b o d o n l u i d o n nai t

n z o rtie r

A d d that i t i s pro fessedl y i n tended pou r

l es j eun es demo iselles

I m os t heartily w ish
I h ave also read
them l uck 0 th e p ri ze m an !
but hol d thy hand tho u way ward m o rtal
co nsi g n no t to the flames th is il l fated scrawl '
i t i s e g otis ti cal i t i s nonsens ical and I speak
i t wi th a s i g h it i s d ul l ! Y e t burn i t not if

'

LE T TE RS

36

OF

TH O[ MA S

CA R L

YL E

181

a co nd i tio n borderi ng o n coma i f an endl ess

series o f m is fo rtu nes and sou th west wi nds
wh i ch hav e almost obl i terated m y sp i ri t can not
ex cuse m e th i n k for th i ne ow n sake is there
not m any a dulcet precept still sl umberi ng at
th e bottom o f m y i nkhorn wh ich i t w il l do thy
h eart good to receive ? T h i nk and read
Wh ich o f ye ye l ong headed o nes o f the earth
e ver d ream t that l i ttl e N ap ti red o f fretti ng
o u t h i s heart i n E lba woul d ri se P h oen i x l ike

d isdai n i n g the l i m i ts of h is l i ttl e reign and

o nce m ore front th e worl d determ i ned to d i e
w i th h arn ess o n h is back !
Y ou r cal culat io ns
are rui ned for N ap i s o n th e eld ! A nd no w
poo r d l w hen s o m any m en that wield

s ceptres a nd p av i ng shovels whe n s o m any

peopl e that hav e d iadem s and grid i rons are
comb i ned agai nst thee why should I be th i ne
e ne my
N o ! gh t th i n e own battl e and com e
what speed thou m ayest for m e
A nd yet I
fear my l i ttl e fellow thou art upon sl ippery i ce
s til l thou h ast m any a trick and w i th mo re
truth than i t was eve r sai d o f anothe r m ay i t
be sai d o f thee
,

T O [MR

815

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

EL

i m p i e in e x ib l e i m pl a c a b l e
D ans l es e n fe rs v au d ra b ra v er le D iab l e

To n a m e

37

AR

V O LT I E

1
.

B u t I m ust n ish th is a din a ge an d assu re you

my dear M i t that I n ever was m ore serious
than when I add that I am you rs mos t s i ncerely
,

T H O M A S CA RLY LE

I f you do n t write s i r i nstantaneousl y it is

al most two o clock and I wri ti ng the mos t co n
fou nded nonsense m erely to pro voke an answe r
i f yo u fail I can t tell what to do w i th you
D i rect to m e at J ames Gass C ab i net m aker
E dmon d S t Fo r amon g m y othe r adven tu res
i t was desti ned t hat I should quarrel w i th a
L an cash i re J a c k a ll wh i ch M r K e n nedy keeps
by way o f ho use keepe r and co nsequentl y S h ift
my l odgi ngs A d ieu my dear M i t W ri te im
m ed i atel y

I n the ame of wonder wrote

i tchell i n h is re p l y to
th i s letter w h y d i d you ll your letter w i th such b l ads
i
b
ig
pi
eces
of
F
rench
B
es
i
des
the
enormous
if
A
l
d
g
[
]
cu l ty of translat i on i t kee p s out some of you r own j x
d p i t wh ich are m uch more p alatable to my taste than any
from the p h iloso p her of F erney
1

ce ,

eu

es

38

E T TE RS

VI I
To
.

Mr
.

TH o M A S

0F

CA R

L YLE

1815

R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
A

NN A N

M ay

se

815

M Y D E A R M I T C H E LL Y ou ough t to thank

m e fo r not wri ti ng you soo ne r B uffeted as I

have been wi thou t ceas i n g s i n ce I s a w you
by i n num erabl e squad rons o f bl ue dem ons
my i magi nat ions hav e bee n o nl y th e decoct io ns
o f ill h um ou r and m y letter m ust h av e been
e ither a h yp e rb a ta v ia n t issue of dul ness o r a
stri ng o f com plai nts and i mp recations u n t fo r
the perus al of an y perso n m ore at eas e i n body
than a gouty v aletud i narian o r i n m i nd than a
rea t m a n o n h is way to B otany B ay
N
ot
that
g
the cas e i s m ended
W i nds and rai ns and
c rosses and losses h ave reduced a tem per
n atural ly warm to a s tate of cau sti c i rritab il i ty
that ren ders m e u nt for anyth i ng
H ow
weary at stal e and u nprotable seem to m e
al l th e uses o f th is worl d !
For what are i ts
i nhabi tants ? I ts g reat m e n an d i ts l ittle its
fat o nes and i ts l ean ? F rom the co urtier to
the C lodhopper from th e emperor to the d us t
m an what are they al l
P i ti ful autom ato ns
.

181

To

MR

B ER T

M I T CH

RO

ELL

39

desp icable Y ahoos yea they are altogether an

unsufferabl e th i ng
O ! fo r a lod g e i n some
vast wilderness som e boundless contiguity of
shade where the s cowl o f th e purse proud
N abob th e s neer and strut o f the coxcom b th e

b ray o f th e n i n ny and the C lodpole

m igh t
neve r reach m e more !
B ut truce to th is
ph il ipp ic v ex at io ns l i ke these affect o nly the
poo r m isgu ided wanderi ng m isanth rope ; and
bless
thy
stars
my
good
M
i
tchell
thou
art
not
)
(
o f them
T he rs t arti cl e i n th e last Q u a rte rly R e view
i s o n S tewart s seco nd volu me
T he wise m en

o f London are earnes t i n thei r ce nsures of th e

m etaphys i cal h eres ies o f thei r northern n eigh
bours ; and notwi thstand i ng th e h igh adm i ra
t ion they pay to S tewart s talents th ey d i ffer
from h i m i n al most all h is resul ts because they
d isbel i eve h is p ri nc ipl es the rst p ri nciples
o f D r Reid T hei r opi n io n (an d they g ive no
reaso ns ) o n a poi nt o f th i s nature i s o f l i ttle
co nsequen ce
A l l the prej ud i ces natural to
,

D ugal d

Huma

Mi / Id

tewart s

E le m e n ts

f Me

l lzi /o s o/z lzy

t/z e

L E T TE RS

40

0F

TH o M A S

CA R

L YLE

18 1

E ngl ishmen th ey entertai n i n thei r full extent

and al ways mod i fy the i r decis ions accord ingl y
For m y part though far be i t from me to
attempt to d isparage o r v il ipend th is great
m an I canno t hel p th i n ki ng that the perusal
o f h is book has done m e h urt
Pe rpetually
tal ki ng about analys i n g pe rcept ions and re t ir
i ng wi th i n o ne s sel f and m igh ty im provements
that we are to m ake no one k nows how I
bel iev e h e w il l generally l eave th e m i nd o f h is
reader c rowded w i th d i sj o i nted not ions and
n ondescri pt ideas wh ich th e soo ne r he gets
ri d O f the better ! I k n o w you th i n k d i ffer
ently ; bu t de gu st i u s n o n est disp u ta n du m ;
an d very p robably the faul t i s not wi th our
G u y M a n n e ring
A utho r but h is s ubj ect
i s rev iewed i n the sam e number T hough we
hav e s till more reason to quest ion thei r com

h
ere
you
will
p
robabl
y
adm
i
t
that
the
e te n c
p
y
D utch boors O f M an neri ng though nev er s o well
pai nted m ust cause a class of sensat ions d ifferen t
from those exc ited by the S alvator band itt i o f
W a verley
Y et th e o nly extract they give
the
departure
o
f
the
gyps
ies
and
M
eg
M
erri
(
,

TO M R

815

RO

BE R T

EL L

[MI T CH

41

l ies address to E llangowan ) is very m uch i n

th e S al vato r style
I am gl ad you saw Lara and am i ndebted
fo r you r accoun t of i t I read th e rev iew o f i t
i n the Q u a rt e rly R e vie w som e t i m e ago L ara
i t seem s is th e i dent i cal C o n rad and K aled

no o ther than that s am e dark eyed sl ave

Gul nare O f whom s uch frequent men tio n i s

m ade i n T he C o rsai r
T he s tory appears to
want ec la irisse m e n t What coul d become o f
th e madcap K n igh t ? A n d what was th e m ean i ng
of that carcase i n the river
Why d id h e raise
the war whoop i n th e lobby ? Y ou r solu tion of
the last d i f cul ty i s too general ; besides had
h e real l y bee n a n u nge re d the natu ral remedy
was to v is i t th e pan try
I am h ighly i ndebted to you fo r H um e I
l ike h is E ssa ys better than anyth i ng I have
read these m any days H e has prej ud ices he
does m ai ntai n errors but he d efe nds h is pos i
t ions w i th so m uch i n g en u i ty that o ne would be
al mos t sorry to s e e h im d isl od g ed
H i s essays

o n S upe rsti tio n and E n thusiasm o n T he

D i g n ity and M ean ness o f H uman N ature and

42

E T TER S

TI I O/ A S

OF

CA R

L YLE

1815

several others are i n m y opi n io n ad m i rabl e

both i n m atter and m an ne r particul arly the
rst where h is concl us ions m ight be veri ed by
i nstances w i th wh ich we are al l acquai nted
T he m an ne r i n deed o f al l i s excel len t ; the
h ighest and m ost d i f cul t effect o f art th e
appearance o f i ts absence appears throughout
B ut m any of h is op i n ions are not to b e adopted
H ow O dd does i t l ook fo r i nstance to refer a ll

th e modications of nat ional character to th e

i n uence o f moral causes M igh t i t no t b e
asserted w i th som e plaus ib il i ty th at even those
w h ich h e denom i n ates m oral causes origi nate
from p hys i cal c i rcum stan ces ? Whence bu t
from the perpetual co ntempl atio n o f h is d reary
g laci ers and rugged gle ns from h is d ism al
b rood i ngs i n h is lo ng an d almost sol itary
n ights h as th e S cand i n av i an conceived h is

ferocious O d i n and h is horri d spectres o f the

d eep ? C ompare th is with the copper castle
an d celestial gardens O f th e A rab ians and we
m ust adm i t th at phys ical causes [ca ve an in u
ence o n m an I read Tk e E p ic u rea n TEe
S t o ic Tli e P la t o n is t an d T/i e S ceft ic u nder
,

TO M R

815

R OB

ER T

M I T CH

ELL

43

som e d isadvantage T hey are perhaps rather

cl ums ily executed and th e idea o f D av i d H um e
declai m ing n a y o f D av i d H u m e m a king lo ve
appears not l ess grotesqu e than would th at o f
o
r
dan
ci
ng
a
F
ren
ch
se a l c o ve rs
se a l c o ve rs
[
]
] [
cotillo n A s a w h o le however I am del ighted
with the book and i f you can want i t I s hal l
m oreo ve r give i t a seco n d perusal
I have
go t to the en d o f th is rambl ing letter an d I
th i n k i n rather better sp i ri ts than I com men ced
Why d i d you not w ri te m e agai n e re th is ?
Y o u k ne w m y woful pl igh t and ough t to h ave
h ad compass io n o n m y in rm it ie s To m ake
ame nds I allow you a week and wi th i n that
t ime yo u are to se nd m e a m ost S pi ri t s ti rri ng
ep istle A buse m e i f yo u w ill fo r m y vagaries
o nly be pi thy and be speedy too
I am condentl y i n fo rm ed th at th e m an o f
m usi c A nd rew i s s til l bent upo n exploring the
new worl d N ay i t i s stated by h i s i nte nded
com rade (wh o has now w isely pre ferred m aki ng
wheel barrows at C astle M il k and l iv i n g as h is
fathers d id to g oi n g to labou r he k no ws no t
where an d feed upo n h e knows not what ) that
.

'

44

E T TE R S

OF

TH OM A S

CA RL

YL E

815

A ndrew s accoutrements h is box was o n its

way to G reenock a fortn igh t ago ! T he Y ankees
are long headed perso nages and A nd rew is a

s i mpl e m an B u t he can ddle h e can dig

and to beg h e is not ashamed
Y o u k now
wh at y o u m u st do B ob before T hursday rs t
e p it/cy noth i ng but peppe r and sal t w ill su i t
m e i n m y presen t h um ou r M y dear M i t ev er
,

y ou rs

V I I I T o
.

T H O M A S CA R LY LE

Mr
.

R OB E RT M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M
u

N NAN

4 th

fu n e

a n se

815

M Y D E A R B O B Y ou r letter o f th e 3 I s t M ay

gave m e a great deal o f pl easu re I had h eard

a so rt of vague accou nt that yo u were s ick and
I had form ed the p roject of com i ng up to co n
dol e w ith you when (i t seems ) you had s o
m uch need o f co ndolence buffeted as you

h ave been by e n nu i torpo r and h epat itis

I t m ade m e happy to l earn that you had com e

to a quietus and th e o nly remark I sh al l

make o n the subj ect is oe t/z a n f ul that such
,

TO M R

815

B ER T

M I T CH

RO

EL L

45

m oderate allowances o f L eech s bol us were

abl e to p roduce the effect fo r there are froward

c reatu res i n the worl d to make whose qu ietus

dees th e powe r of anyth i ng less e fcacious than

a bare bodki n
Y o u take i t upo n you to scol d m e for not
call i ng as I went to D um fries B ut h ear m y
s tory M i t
I was p roceed i ng qu ietl y from
E ccle fechan to A n nan w i thou t th e s m al lest
i ntent io n of goi ng o n any s uch exped it ion when
I m et w i th J oh nsto n e and h e adv ised m e to
accompany h im We were obl iged to use al l
poss ibl e despatch fo r fear o f bei ng too late ; and
befo
re
we
go
t
J
e
ffrey
accoutred
at
F
losh
etc
(
etc ) i t bei ng about el even o clock I had
absolutel y no t im e to s e e you though I cer
I ndeed
t a in ly i ntended i t wh e n I left A n nan
I d id s e e from th e road a tall l ank gu re per
form i ng i ts gy rations roun d R uth wel l C hu rch
w i th m uch sol em n i ty : but whethe r i t w as
M itchell I kn ow not I t was near two w he n
w e got to D um fries and bei ng co nseque ntly
preven ted fro m g etti ng w i th i n hal f a l ea g ue o f
S t M i chael s w e s a w th e ce remo ny o f l a y i n g

46

E T TE RS

OF

TH OM A S

CA R

L YLE

18 15

th e sto ne exactly as well as ifw e had bee n i n

the grand square o f T i m buctoo Y et n o t w it h
stand i ng th is notwi thstandi ng that al l th e

scull ions i n D um friessh i re were let S l ip not

w i thstandi ng th e canteri ng and parad ing o f the
E ttri ck Y eom en notw i thstand i ng th e pape r
caps th e gu red roquelaures the m agic
lanterns o f free m ason ry i t was a stri ki ng
sce ne
S cotl and pay ing th e t ribu te o f well
earned ho nou r to o ne o f th e nobl es t o f h er
sons I t is a great p i ty that th e mon um en t
w ill no t b e over h is grave ; m any in c o n
v e n ie n c e s ough t
to have been subm itted to
i n o rde r to gai n th is po i nt Wh e n I passed
R uth well agai n i t was after m id n igh t s o that
you have noth i ng to bl am e m e for o n that
score
I coul d not sen d you th e R evie w for th e
m an of whom I h ad bo rrowed i t h ad got i t
agai n and l ent i t to a nothe r I f I can get i t
agai n at any ti me I w il l sen d i t you H av e
you seen the l as t E din ou rg/z R evie w ? T here
are several p ro m is i n g art icl es i n it S cott s

The

foundation stone of the monument to B urns

TO M R

18 15

B ER T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

47

L ew is
of th e I sles
S tandard N ovel s
and C l arke s Travels u p the M issou ri (of wh ich
a m ost delectabl e accou n t is give n i n th e

J oan na S outhcott etc etc

I
Q u a rte rly )
h av e been rev is i ng A k e n s ide s i n ce I s a w you
H e possesses a warm i magi n at io n an d great
strength an d beauty o f d ict ion
H i s poem you

k now does not l i ke C ampbell s H ope co n

s ist o f a n umber o f l ittl e i nc idents told i n an
i nteresti ng m an ner an d s el ected to i llustrate
h is posi t ions it is l i ttl e else than a moral
decl amatio n N everth eless I l i ke i t A ken
s id e was an e nth usi ast i c ad m i re r o f th e anc ien t
republ i cs and o f th e ancien t ph ilosophers H e
thought h ighly o f Lo rd S h a ft e s b u ry s pri n ci ples
and had a bad O pi nio n o f S cotsm en Fo r th is
l as t pecul i ari ty h e has been severel y caricatu red
by S moll ett i n h is Pe regrin e P ic lele u nder the
ch aracter O f the fantast i c E n g l is h docto r i n
F rance W hen we m en tio n S haftesbu ry i s h is
book i n yo u r possess io n and can yo u le t m e
h av e a read i n g o f i t ? I am i n cl i ned to suppose
that th e p revalence o f in del i ty i s o n th e
decl i ne P rid e wil l o fte n ove rtu rn what reaso n

Lord

LE T TER S

48

OF

TITO/MA S

CA R

L YLE

815

had attempted i n vai n and when th e carrio n

and offal o f human nature begi n to adopt the
tenets o f ou r sages we look fo r som eth i ng new
W hat l eads m e to s a y th is i s that I h ave heard
lately that there are i n M i ddleb i e s undry
cun ning workmen some S k illed i n the in t ri
cac ies o f the loom som e acquai nted w ith th e
operat ions O f th e lapsto ne who are n o ta ole
de ists n ay several aspi re to taste th e s ubl i m e
del ights O f A t/z e is m / N ow when creatu res
superior i n s o few respects (i n ferio r i n s o many )
to the cow that b rowses o n thei r h ills begi n to
t read upon th e h eel s o f the wise o nes O f the
earth the h ue and cry abou t freedom from
popular erro rs dean ce of v ulgar p rej ud i ces
glory o f dari ng to follow t ruth though alone

etc etc etc is an n ih ilated and all the res t

is leather and p ru nel la

B ut we wi ll tal k o n
those subj ects afterwards
G ive m y bes t respects to M r and M rs
D uncan and m entio n that I i ntend to hav e the
pleasu re o f seei ng them i n a short ti m e I
can no t come rst S aturday fo r m any reasons
I cannot come th e next S atu rday fo r the n is
,

T O [MR

815

B ER T

M I T CH

RO

ELL

49

M r Gle n s sacram ent and I bel ieve I S hal l

be constrai ned to go to s ermon
T here i s
noth in g that I k now of to h i nder m e the week
after that and i f al l th i ngs answe r I shal l l ikel y
T hough I began th i s letter l ast
s e e yo u the n
n igh t I h ave been obl iged to wri te the greates t
part of i t s i nce twel ve o clock to day I t i s
w ith i n th ree m i nutes o f one an d I have no
m ore t im e Wri te m e i m m ed i ately and I w il l
be pu nctual i n answeri ng Y ou r I rish play is an
u n i u e i n i ts k i nd
I
shall
be
obl
iged
to
yo
u
q
fo r you r fu n
I h ave neve r h eard i t K eep
B lai r till I co me and seek h i m an d bel iev e m e
to b e m y dear M i tchell yours si n cerely

T H O M A S CA RLY LE
I X To M r
.

M IT C IIE LL
A

R t h w ll M
u

NN A N

I I t/c

a n se

D e c e In oe r

M Y D E A R M I TC H E LL I ope ned you r l as t

l ette r wi th fear and t rem bl i n g

I expected

is an ac c ount of M G l en
l gh
m i nister at A r man w i th xh m I had l atterl y
boarded there and been domest call y very ha pp y i n com
p ar i son
1

the

In

u r

er

1 07,

r
.

VOL

'

l i e m z n isce n ces ,

LE T TER S

50

OF

TH O M A S

CA RL

YLE

18 15

noth i ng but reproach es whe n lo ! m y s i ns are

laid upo n th e back o f th e u noffe nd ing Post
J oh n and I am neve r blam ed
I ndeed
M i tch ell you have bee n too good : and I look
fo r noth i ng bu t that you will be ready to sl ay
m e when you com e to kno w th at I h av e n ev e r
wri tte n you at all
I beseech yo u l et not you r
wrath b e k i ndled S tay til l yo u h av e heard
m y p i teous c i rcum stances and I am persuaded
you w il l pardon m e I m igh t j ustly p re face
m y accou n t w ith an i nfa n du m regin a b ut to

proceed w ithout ornam ent

Y e p robably may
not k now those l i nes o f S ca lige r (appl ied to
d i ct io nary m akers an d m u ta t is m u ta n dis to
d i ctionary users )
,

Si q

Le

u e m d u ra m anet s e nt e nt ia ju d i c is o l i m

xica

c o n te xa t,

Poe n a ru m

nam c aet e ra q u i d m o ror ? o m n e s

fa c i e s h ie l a b o r u n u s h a b e t
,

Y o u certai nl y imagi ne I am got terribly l earned

s i nce I s a w you B u t fai r and so ftly I know
noth i ng at all about ho nest S cal ige r ; and

those l i nes o f h is are I bel ieve non e o f

th e mos t ho nestl y com e by
I co nveyed them
.

TO M R

815

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

EL L

51

(
y t he wise i t cal l ) from M orell s p fe fa c e
to A i nswo rth s D i ct ionary a p re face I m ay
observ e th e m ost s trongl y i mp reg n ated w ith
pedantry o f any I ever read B u t o nce m ore

l et m e p roceed
those l i nes o f S cal iger an d

m any other l i nes are appl i cabl e to m e as

you shall p resently hear A fter parti ng fro m
you at Ru thwel l I consumed th e rem ai nde r o f
ou r v acati o n i n su nd ry i dle p roj ects : o n e o f
wh ich was go i ng to D um fries and su fferi ng

th e pai n o f th ree i ntolerable deaths fo r th e

pu rpose o f heari ng certai n wi se and fai th ful
cou nsellors d i spla y thei r eloquence at the
ci rcui t t rial s \V hen I retu rned to A n nan i t
occu rred to m e that i t wo ul d be p roper to s e e
w hat had becom e o f m y H al l d is cou rses
It
occu rred to m e m uch abo ut the sam e ti m e
th at i t woul d be p rope r to study Rum fo rd s
E s sa ys M ackenz i e s Tra ve ls H u mbold t s N e w
B erkeley s Prin c iples of [Kn o w /e dge
Sp a in
S tewart s E ssa y s S i mson s F lu xio n s etc e tc
etc I t was som e gre a t m an s ad vi ce to eve ry
pe rson i n a hu rry n eve r to do mo re than o n e
th i n g at a t im e J ud g e what p ro g ress I m us t

co n ve

52

ER S

LE T T

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YL E

181

have m ade when I engaged i n h al f dozen

M anu factu ri n g t/z e se s wrestl ing w i th lex i co ns
chem ical experi m ents S cotch ph ilosophy and
B erkeleian M etaphys ics
h av e scarcely s u f
c i ent strength le ft to w ri te you eve n now
U po n considerat ion therefore O f th ese egre
i
o u s l abou rs I hope
you
can
not
refuse
to
g
forgive m e
I am anx ious to co nsul t you about goi ng to
E di nbu rgh th i s wi nte r I h ave al ready partly
tol d you that I have bee n m ak i ng m y E ocege s is
I t i s now nearly n is hed
an d trul y a m ost
del ectabl e production it is bu t of th is some
other t i m e I wrote to M u rray i n great haste
to com m iss io n m e a d ay and i t seems I am
engag ed to read o n F ri day the 2 2 d curre nt
S o th at you s e e m y t i me O f setti ng out is
decided upo n Y ou wil l ask m e why s i nce I
have al most com e to a determ i natio n about m y
t ness for th e s tudy o f D i vi n i ty why al l th is

m ighty sti r why th is ado abou t del i veri ng

a th es is that i n the m i nd s eye seem s v ile and
i n the nostri l s mel ls horrible ? I t i s not b e
cause I have al tered m y senti m ents about th e
-

TO M R

815

BE R T

RO

M I T CH E LL

53

study o f T heology : but pri ncipally because i t

cam e i nto m y head to try what sort o f an essay
upon n atural rel igio n I could m ake I h ave
tri ed and n d acco rd i ngly that I can m ake on e

perfectl y
weary at stale an d u np ro tabl e
bu t I am engaged and m ust read it now
I do n ot expect ye t that yo u w il l b e able to

tel l m e wh ether the S abbath i s o f d iv i ne in

s t it u t io n
but I do hope you have dete rm i ned
to go to E d i nb urgh th is W i n ter alo n g wi th m e
I f you hav e no t I m ust no t t ry to pers uade yo u
Y ou w o ul d suspect th at m y argu men ts arose
from sel sh m oti ves an d yo u woul d no t be far
from righ t ; fo r i f yo u do not go I shal l be th e
m ost m elancholy perso n i ma g i nable
B ut I
can not h el p b ri ngi ng to you r recoll ection th e
poss ibil ity that you may change yo u r opi n io n
abou t becom i n g a cl erg yman i n wh i ch case
you r an nual v i si t to E d i nb u rg h w il l be of
essential se rv ice I t does g ood at any rate
b y preve n tin g that pi ty wh i ch ce rtai n peopl e
o f g rave m i nds are so d is p osed to bestow o n
eve r y o ne th at h as not a xed prospec t i n l i fe
and over an d above i t i s pl easan t to rev is i t
.

L E T TE R S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA RL

YLE

815

o ne s a lm a m a te r Fo r these reasons and fo r

o ne (I co n fes s i t ) as strong as any that I sh al l
b e u ncom fortable i f yo u re fuse I earn estl y
w ish you to determ i ne upon th i s j ourney
,

Y o u woul d hav e La n da lls p reach i ng last

?
d
S atu rday H ow oes he seem to do
D oc
tri nal d iscourses
true bl ue I suppose
I
have heard o f a cri ti cism passed by th e l ate
D r F i nlay o f Glasgow upo n som e em i ne n t
probat io ner ; I k no w not whether i t wil l apply
U po n bei ng asked h is O p i n io n concern i ng the
gentl eman s o ratorical powe rs h e m ade answer

H e b a t h a comely appearan ce an d hath

attracted the not ice o f d i vers you ng m en and
also o f som e yo ung women
H ave you heard
that the very l earned and very o rthodox d iv i ne
O f O ch iltree is p repari ng to appl y h is polyglot
sto res to translat i ng th e N ew Testamen t
I am
B o n u m fa u st u m fe lix e t fo rt u n a t u m s it
only sorry that I was obl iged to become a
s ubscriber it is o n e pou n d fourif you take
a though t of buy i n g i t apply to m e and you
shall h ave i t for th e odd s ilv er
.

815

MR

To

B ER T

RO

M I T CH

EL L

55

I am obl iged to you for you r accou n t of you r

S wiss v is itants W i th all i magi nabl e deferen ce
to those wh o p ractise the subl im e v i rtu e o f
chari ty I can not altogeth er se e wh at co ncern
th e peaceabl e i n habi tants of D um fri essh i re hav e
wi th th e m anagemen t o f the co nvents S i tuated
among th e gl ac iers o f the A lps H ad the task
o f repairi ng thei r b reaches bee n co ns igned to
th e virt u os i an d th e cogn osce n t i that frequen t
those regio ns i t m igh t have been more betti ng
B ut all fo r the honou r of E ngland !
C an yo u tell m e whethe r D av ie Graham is
co nti nu i ng to p ractise physi c ? H e is a good
honest l ad
I am only afraid that the aphoris ms
o f C el sus w ill not ans we r [fo r] the m en of
1
A nd A ndrew al as ! th e gree n
T u n de rga rt h
ocean i s betw ix t us ! Illi ro u r e t a es t r ip lex
.

c irc a

ec t u s e ra

T h e fate o f poor A nd rew d isposes o ne to

be m elan chol y
What i s to become o f u s
M i tchel l ? T h e period O f ou r boyhood i s
past : and i n a l i ttle wh ile i f we l i ve behol d
we shall be bearded m e n ! from whom w isdom
.

p arish i n D umfriessh ire

LE T TE RS

56

TH OM A S

OF

CA R L

YL E

315

an d grav i ty wil l be requ i red I t is now a year

s i nce we last v is ited E d i nbu rgh F o r m y part
though I have labou red as I coul d i n m y vaca
tion can I s a y that I am e ither w iser o r better
i n any perceptible degree
T h is
O u t upon i t
i s a m iserabl e wo rld
B ut l et us qu i t moral is i ng and beth i nk u s o f
ou r j ou rney Y ou m ust w ri te m e o n T hu rsday
th at you will be ready at the t ime I can not
th i n k of any excus e you can plead wi th any
chance o f su ccess A re you afrai d les t i t h urt
you r heal th
Wrap yoursel f up i n you r roque
lau re and you can take no harm Y ou h ave
been curl i n g ; and I am happy to bel i eve you
have g ot round agai n Y o u certai nly w il l com e
I k now not whether you will have heard that I
am l iv i ng w i th M r Glen s i nce I came to A n nan
last H e is a real good m an a s far as I can
se e
and M rs Glen i s a ne cheerful wom an
s o that upo n th e whole I am no t u ncom fortable
i n my presen t ci rcum stances
M ost o f th e
m i n isters th at com e here (no great number let
m e be th ankful ) are cu rious bod ies but I w ill
speak o f th is elsewh ere I n the m eantim e I
.

TO M R

1816

BER T

[MI T CH

RO

EL L

57

must agai n repeat m y petit io n and hope th at i n

a short ti m e w e shal l be i n E di nb u rgh together
I am ever you rs m y good R ob i n
.

T H O M A S C A R LY LE

time
writes C ar lyl e i n h i s

i(
I ha d g o n e w i t h g reat pl easu re t o
R mi i
see E d i n b u rg h ag ai n an d rea d i n D i v i n it y H a ll a Lati n
d is c o u rse E x g i th e y c a ll i t there 0 th e q u est io n
i
t
lg
li ?
I t was th e s e c o n d an d
[V
dt
p r o v e d t o b th e l ast o f m y p er form an c es o n th at th eatre
M y rst an E n gl i sh serm o n o n t h e wor d s B e for e I was
a f i c te d I wen t astra y b u t n o w e t et c a v er y w ea k
an d o wer y sen ti m e n ta l p i e c e h a d b e e a c h ie v e d i n 8 4
p ri or t o o r few m on t h s a fter m y l ea v i n g fo A n nan
Pie c e se c o n d too I su pp ose was wea k e n o u g h b u t I sti ll
re m em b er th e k i n d o f i n n o c e nt sat is fa c t i o n I ha d i n t u rn i n g
i t i nto Lati n i n m y so l i tu d e an d m y s l i g h t an d m om e ntar y
b
y
n
o
m
eans
d
ee
p
or
si
n
c
ere
sen
se
o
f
pl
easu
r
i
n
th
e
b
its
e
)
(
o f om pl i m en ts an d i m s y a pp ro b at i o n s fro m c om ra d es
an d Pro fessors o n bo th t hese o cc asi o ns B e fore C h ristmas
D a y I h a d g o t ri d o f m y E x e g esis an d h a d sti l l a wee k Of
h o l i d a y ah ea d fo r o l d a c q uai n tan c es an d E d i n b u rg h th i n g s
w h i ch was th e rea l h arm o f m y o f c i a l erran d th i th er

bout

C hristmas

n sce n ces

e es s

e u r

n7n

re i

na

u ra

To

M r R O B E RT M I TC H E LL R t h w ll M
.

NN A N

M I TC H E LL
wri tte n you a m onth a g o
M Y D EA R

5 l/c F e ru

a r

a n se

816

k no w I shoul d h ave
a nd I a m
not go i ng

LE T TE RS

58

OF

TH OM A S

CA R

L YLE

1 8 16

to take u p you r t i me wi th excuses I h ave

i ndeed no excuse except th e perpetual ly forth
com ing o ne no ti me and no s ubj ect ; and i t
woul d b e but ag g ravat i ng m y m i sco nduct to
h arangue you upo n a topi c th at h as been so
fully discussed by ev ery writer o f lette rs i n
every age o f the wo rl d T h e truth is
I h ave
bee n a very torp id perso n O f late A fter u nder
goi ng the fatigues o f a mos t u n com fortabl e
j ou rney to E d i nbu rgh I returned with renewed
keen ness to m y ol d h ab its of seclus io n an d
repose ; to read i ng when I was able and whe n
I was not to th e form i ng of v ai n hopes an d
s illy proj ects at wh i ch I h ave a pecul iar k nack
B ut though I h ave not w ri tten to yo u I h av e
h ad you ofte n i n m y m i nd
M any a ti m e
duri ng m y d reary pilgrim age to E d i nbu rgh d i d
I sol ace m ysel f w i th th e hope o f m ak i ng you
m erry w i th the rec i tal of m y adven tu res : a
hope wh i ch (as you are j ust go i ng to s e e )
h as l i ke m any other hopes prov ed u tterl y falla
.

c io u s

I l eft E cclefechan o n th e even i ng o f Tues

day th e l gt h D ecember o n the top of th e

'

TO M R

816

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

EL L

59

G lasgow m ail
L i ttle occurred wo rthy o f
notice t il l o n m y arri val at M offat I d iscovered
among m y fello w t ravell ers along w ith th ree
Lancash i re cotto n m en a ne species o f th e
p op injay o f whom al l th at I can now s a y is
that h e was m uch shocked at see i ng ro os e ef
pp
an
d
expressed
h
i
s
gri
ef
and
s
u
rp
rise
o
s
u
a
f
by seve ral nondescript i nterj ect ions that h e was
u nabl e to determ i ne wh eth er th e fowl o n th e
tabl e was a tam e duck o r w ild an d the reupo n

d i d patie ntl y i n cl i n e to t he reaso n i ngs o f an

ancient S cottis h go u rm a n d wh o at length s u c
c e e de d i n settl i ng h is m i nd upon th is i mportant
subj ect ; and th at upo n m y i nqu i ri ng after the
news o f th e paper wh ich h e was read ing h e
i n form ed m e t hat th e A a c/cdo ocs h ad retu rned
to E ngl and and that (th is h e prel uded by th ree
nods o f satis faction ) th e P ri nce Re g e n t was
gone to B ri g hto n
T h e nex t day I had d i fferent obj ects to
speculate upon
I was m ounted o n the roo f o f
the coac h i n o ne o f th e m os t d is mal d ays I eve r
sa w
I t s nowed heav il y ; o n our arri val at
E ric k s ta n e particul arl y th e roari n g o f the w i nd
.

60

E T TER S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

816

and the ocean o f dri ft carried wi th i t together

wi th th e b e llo w in gs o f the d istracted coach m en
an d th e outlandish w a rwh o o p s of two I rish
docto rs who alo n g w ith m ysel f h ad d i s
mou nted t il l we should asce nd th e h ill form ed
a s ce ne s u f ci e ntly w il d O f th is I i nte nded
for you r be ne t a v ery pathet ic descriptio n as
well as o f the desolatio n O f the B rough to n I n n
where after a day of v iol en t strugg l i n g we
nall y stopped
T h e k i tchen I remember
when I entered i t was lled wi th shepherds
and carri ers an d i n th e m idst l ike a b reath i ng
i cebe rg s tood ou r guard describi ng wi th m uch
em phas is th e hardsh ips o f the day
Two
fem al e passengers had taken possess io n o f
anoth er quarter of th e house and l eft th e two
H ibern ians an d m e to pass the even i ng as we
best were able I d i d not by any means l i ke
my co m rades O ne o f th em (acco rd i ng to m y
co ncept io ns ) but that he from ti m e to ti m e
u ttered ce rtai n acute sou n ds and had a pai r of
l ittle ery eyes pretty m uch resem bl ed a n
E gypti an m u mmy
a l ittl e m eagre th i ng sk i n
apparentl y o f the nature o f parchmen t and a
,

TO M R

1816

B ER T

RO

[ MI T CH

E LL

61

complex io n th at seemed to h av e bee n p roduced

by repeated i m mers io n i n strong decoctio ns of
logwood T h e other had a K i lm arnock bon net
B oth seem i ngly exceed ing v ai n as wel l as stup id
I spe n t an u nhappy even i ng T he m um m y
bl ew upo n a Germ an ute and both tal ked o f
A ntri m an d D rogh eda t ill I h ad com e to a
resolutio n o f leav i ng them next m orn i ng at al l
h azards I m us t no t ne g lect to tel l you o f Ou r
dorm i to ry ; nd i ng the re was o nl y o n e bed
allotted to us all an d w isel y j udgi n g i t pruden t
to m ake th e bes t o f a bad bargai n the m um m y
took possess io n o f the m iddl e
T here is n o
h appi ness i t is said wi thou t alloy a t least i t
proved so i n th is case ; for al though by th is
m anoeuvre the m um my rece ived a com fortabl e
proportio n o f warm th yet the p ressu re o f the
K il marnock bon net m an u pon h i s fra g i l e S ides
seemed cons iderabl y to damp h i s enj oym en t
I t became at len g th so i n tol erabl e i ndeed as to
compel h i m (afte r a d esperate and i ne ffectual

effo rt at rel ease ) to excl ai m [M arc i/ ul H eave n

rese
rve
m
y
s o w l what
w
ill
becom
e
o
f
m
e
p
?
now
T he b i tter wh i n e i n wh ich th i s sent i
.

LE T TERS

62

OF

TH O[MA S

CA RL

YLE

18 16

m ent was utte red and the sudde n nature o f

s uch a preparat io n fo r d issol ut io n (wh i ch I
m igh t h ave i n ferred from th e words h e ex
e c t e d forthwi th
woul
d
i
n
any
o
ther
C
i
rcum
p
)
stances h ave overco m e m y grav ity
I l eft th em n ex t m o rn i ng an d s e t ou t o n m y
forlo rn exped i tio n at fou r o clock
I t was truly
an I celand ic scene
T h e w i nd had subs ided
d u ri ng th e n ight al l was s il ent an d th e moo n
d i sclosed th e d reary expanse of s now wh i ch i n
m any pl aces was d rifted i nto heaps o f several
feet i n depth
I m ade but i nd ifferent p rogress
for after i n n i te o u n de rin gs (at o ne t im e l i te r
ally u p to th e ch i n i n s now ) th e s u n ros e upon
m e i n th e wol ds o f L i nto n
T h e t rack was
enti rel y obl i terated and I s uppose I was b e
g i n n i ng to look S ill y e nough wh en I l uck ily
descri ed a benevolent h erdsman who poi n ted
ou t to m e th e road fo r N o b le h o u s e from wh i ch
I had dev iated at the suggestio n o f a roadman
at whose cottage I h ad called and who though t
the h i g h er road woul d be th e cl earer
I was
to m eet at N o b le h o u s e w i th a T hom as
C lark D iv i n ity studen t whom I h ad k nown
,

TO M R

816

B ER T

[M I T CH E L L

RO

63

i n E d i nb urgh
H e was p repari ng to m ou nt
o n horseback an d i n th e m eant i m e i ntroduced
m e to a tal l th i n m an who h e s aid i ntended to
wal k to E d i nburgh hav i ng bee n long d i s
appo i nted o f a passage i n the coach
T here
was a stagnant pl aci di ty i n th i s perso n s c o u n t e n
ance wh ich i ncl i ned m e to bel ieve th at h e woul d
p rove a s u f ciently i noffens i ve compan io n H e
d i d tu rn out a very S h allow m an H e quest
io n e d the workm e n wh om we passed w i th
m uc h m i n uteness co ncern i ng the s tate o f the
r o ds th at were befo re us ; and co n ve rsed w i th
m e u po n no s ubj ect but that o f the effects O f
s no w upo n h uman bod ies seem i ng particularly
anx ious abou t th e fate O f h i s ow n vile ca rrio n
H e ti red ; and I l eft h i m at Pe n n yc u ic k s i tti ng
w i th a k i ndred spi ri t to al l appearan ce a P eebles
weave r I pu rsued my j ou rney w ith u nabati ng
v eloci ty a nd arri ved at J oh n F o rres t s at l ast
abou t n i ne o clock I neve r was m o re happy
at see i n g E d i nbu rg h
I g ave i n m y D iscou rse n ex t d ay alon g wi th
S am uel C ave n and anoth e r who m I d id no t
k no w
I t was sus tai ned wi thou t di f c ul ty
.

64

E T TE R S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA RL

YLE

816

C ave n s was a p rec io us m orsel

I ts author i t
seems i s i n som e fam ily i n the E as t C ountry
H e i s a j u mbl i ng perso n to S peak w i th ; h e

says an i n n i te deal o f noth i ng ; h is reaso ns

are as two grai n s o f wheat h idden i n two
b ushel s of chaff ; yo u sh all se e k al l day e re you
n d th em an d whe n yo u h ave them they are
n ot worth the search
B u t e nough o f h im
O u r O ld college cron ies hav e l eft E d i nb u rgh
n early to a m an Waugh st ill cont in ues th ere
teach i ng an d l earn i ng w ith al l h is m igh t I th i n k
h e was not qu i te s o ful l o f ca lc u li as usual
W h en we speak o f ca lc u li I b rough t hom e
some
m
athe
mati
cal
book
s
wh
ich
I
m
us
t
tel
l
]
[
you o f
B o s s u t s H ist o ry of M a t e m a t ics
Wood s Op t ics an d C u n n s E u c lid an d N e w
to n s P rin c ip ia co nst itute my stock O f th is s ort
I got Lu c a n s P/ca rsa lia also an d som e l i ttl e
extracts of Fe nelo n s D ia logu es a es M o rts I f
there are any o f these (except N ewton for
wh ic h you woul d be obl iged to wai t awh ile )

that you w ish to s e e they are ready for you

I had read B ossut before an d hav e not done
m uch at h im o f late N e ithe r have I read any
,

816

TO

MR

RO

B ER T

[M I T CH

EL L

65

quantity of Wood yet hav i ng bee n n ibbl i ng at

the P r in c zj
oia (wh ich w i th all m y strug g l i ng I
com e bu t ill at u nde rstand i ng i n deed i n som e
places I do n t u nderstand i t at all ) ever s i nce I
came ho me O f L ucan I h av e no t read above
seve n l i nes I saw S cott s [Va te rlo o and G u y
The
M a n n e r ing when I was i n E d i nbu rgh
fo rm er has been s o d readfully ab used al ready
that I have noth i ng to add to the newspape r
pu ns etc w i th wh ich i t has bee n assailed
T he re are (as G ray s ai d o f T/ce Ca st le of I n
I have far too
do le n c e ) some g ood l i nes i n i t
l ittl e room fo r speak i ng o f M a n n e rin gs beauti es
and defects at p resen t I will d iscuss i t nex t
t i me I write i f I can nd noth i ng bette r
B u t I m us t cl ose th is l ong letter
I h ave
as you see dev oted th e n igh t to wri ti ng m y
adventures Y o u asked fo r C a ddie s an d t rul y
I th i nk I h ave d ri ve n you i n an abundan t
he rd T here i s still anoth e r pe rso n whom (i f
h e conti n ues th us ) y o u m ay th in k i t reaso nabl e
Y ou m ust w rite me on you r return from E d i nbu rg h
convey i n g the Do c tor s cr i tic i sm and you r adventures w i th al l
the red C ddi you may meet w i th
to C arly l e
5 t h December 8 5
,

es

VO L

66

E T TE RS

TI I OM A S

OF

CA R

L YLE

1 8 16

to add to the l ist I beseech you giv e h i m

quarte r
N o twi ths tan d i ng m y m isdeeds I wil l ask
you for a l etter and a p retty early o ne too
Y ou used you rsel f to be a s a d co rrespondent
you k now and ou g h t therefo re to have so me
consc ie nce I saw La n da lls to n ight h e says
you h ave b ee n u nwel l I do hope my good
M i t you are recov ered Tell m e soon an d
bel ieve m e ever m y dear Rob i n yours s in
c e rel 1
T H S CA R LY LE
.

X I To M r
.

R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
.

I9
MY

G OO D

% Ap ri l

se

8 16

LA D Y ou

m ust be aware that I

h ave a righ t to rate you w ith cons iderable
acri mony Last t i me I saw yo u you p rom ised
to se nd m e a letter i n a few days yet several
weeks h ave el apsed an d no l ette r has appeared
T h is is very blam eworthy but I need not scol d
you fo r i n all probab il i t y by the t i me you have
stud ied th e follo wi ng d isquis itio n you will
th i nk yoursel f pu n ished to the full I t i s one
.

816

BE R T

[MR

TO

RO

M I T CH

EL L

Of

67

the theorems we were speak i n g o f I fou nd

i t ou t som e months ago ; and an O dd fancy
struck m e of tu rn i ng the demonstratio n i n to
the L ati n tongue M y d ialect of th at l anguage
is I doub t not somewhat pecul iar
and you
may chance to n d some d i f cul ty i n i n terp ret
i ng i t [H ere followed th e theorem i n Lati n ]
S uch i s the resul t o f th is i nvestigatio n
Y ou r theo rem about th e h eptago n does n ot
answe r exactl y : i t is o nly a good a p p ro xi
mat ion as I pe rce i ve and as yo u m ay perce i ve
also by co nsul ti n g a tabl e o f S i nes and tan g e nts
I h ave fo rg ot Wes t s theorem about the c i rcle
and cu rves o f the seco nd o rder I t i s no great
m atte r surel y s i nce I shoul d not be able to
demonstrate i t though I had i t I w i sh yo u
woul d se nd i t m e notwi thstand i n g
I hope yo u hav e susta i ned no i nj u ry from
you r excu rs io n to E d in bu rg h
I h ope too
that yo u spoke to M r Lesl ie co nce rn i n g the
books lf yo u h av e no t p rocu red [m e ]o ne I
m ust request y ou to l end m e y ou rs i m med iatel y
fo r a short tim e i f y ou can do w i thout i t : for
o ne o f the bo y s has be g u n con ics and l h ave
.

L E T TERS

68

OF

TH OR[A S

CA R

L YL E

18 16

le nt h i m m y book and shoul d l i ke to hav e

another copy o f i t by m e to consul t at hom e
Y o u m ust send m e the theo rem and book by
M r J oh nstone o f H it c h ill who I u nderstand i s
to be at R uth wel l to day and w ho can easily
bri n g them to A n nan A letter I am expecting
w i th im patie nce Y ours eve r
.

T H O M A S CA R LY LE

X II

To

M r R M I TC H E LL R t h w ll M
.

NN A N

sth

a n se

ju ly

816

M Y D E A R F R I E N D I am greatly obl iged to

you fo r you r l etter A t present I had no great

reaso n to expect it Y et y ou must no t suppose
that I hav e wil fully neglected to wri te I t is
t wo m onths s i nce I s e t resol utely to work
determ i ne d to send you a very handsom e l etter
w i thout loss o f t i me
A nd I had assu redly
do ne s o h ad I not cl earl y percei ved that i t was
not i n m y powe r to send you anyth i ng that
coul d at al l hav e i nterested you S i nce that
t im e I h ave been conti nually load i ng m ysel f
.

T O [MR

18 16

RO

BER T

[MI T CH

ELL

69

with u navail i ng reproaches and I h ave begu n

to write at l ast solel y l est b y m y s ilence I
S houl d O ffen d you w ithout rem edy Y ou are
there fore to expect noth i ng bu t a very useless
letter fro m m e and dul l as m ay be
I am very sorry that yo u are s o u nhappy
i t i s my ow n case also for I h ave bee n ex
t re m e ly m elancholy d uri ng the l ast s ix weeks
upo n m any accou nts I t i s abou t ten d ays
s i nce I got ri d o f a severe i n am m atio n of th e
th roat wh ich co n ned m e to th e house fo r two
weeks D uri ng two o r th ree days I was not
abl e to speak plai nl y an d you wil l easily con
c e ive that I passed m y t i me very heav ily
I
e ndeavou red to read seve ral th in g s : I tried a
book o f m odern B io g raphy Tli e B r it is/c
Pln t a rc /c ; but soo n nd i ng i t to b e a v ery
m ise rabl e book I s h ut i t fo r g ood an d all
I nex t o p ened th e Sp e c t a to r an d though h is
j aun ty m an ne r but i ll acco rded wi th m y sul ky
h um ou rs I toiled th rou g h a vol um e and a hal f
w i th exem pla ry p at ience Lastl y I h ad re
cou rse to Lord C h e s t e r e ld s ad v i ce to h is s o n
and I th i nk I neve r before so disti n ctl y s a w th e
,

L E T TE RS

7o

TH O[MA S

OF

CA RL

YLE

18 16

piti ful d ispos i tio n o f th is Lord H is d i rectio ns

concern i ng wash i ng the face and pari n g t h e
nails are i ndeed very praiseworthy : and I
shoul d be co nte n t to see them p ri nted i n a
l arge type and placed i n fram es abov e th e
ch im ney p ieces of board i ng school s for th e
pu rpose of e n forc i ng the duties o f cleanl i ness
upo n the risi ng generat ion B u t the attery
the d issi m ulatio n and pal try cu n n i ng that h e is
perpetually recom m end i ng l eave o ne l ittle
room to regret that C hesterel d was not h i s
father S uch was th e resul t o f my stud ies i n
m y sick ness a resul t h ighl y u nfavourabl e to
those fe el i ngs of prostrat io n before h igh b i rth
and weight of purse wh ich (m an y tel l us ) i t is
S O em i ne ntly th e d uty of al l m en to cul ti vate
I ndeed th is is not th e rst t im e that I hav e
noticed i n my m i nd a co ns ide rable tendency to
u nderval ue th e g reat o nes of th is world C o n
scious that th is sentimen t proceeds i n a co n
degree from my s i tuatio n i n l i fe I
s ide ra b le
som eti mes endeav ou r to check i t : bu t after all
i t requ i res l ittl e observatio n to teach us that
th e N obl e o f P ol i tical society and th e N obl e O f
.

18 16

TO

MR

BE R T

RO

MI T CH

ELL

71

N ature are d i fferen t pe rso ns i n n i ne cases ou t

I am also aware that F la c c u s has said
O f ten

that Pr in c ioi u s p la c u isse viris n o n u lt im a

b u t w ith great deferen ce I would
la u s
subm i t to F la c c u s th at th e justness O f h is
apho rism m ust depen d upo n th e C haracter o f

th ese sam e P ri ncipes v i ri ; otherwise it is

easy to conce iv e a state o f soc iety i n wh ich
th i s n o n u lt im a la u s of h is m ust be v ery
l iberall y shared wi th sycophants an d pandars
B ut I daresay you have e nough o f these re
T u rn we to someth i ng els e : I
e c t io n s
daresay I kno w as l ittl e o f N av i g atio n as you ;
and yet I do not feel great di f cul ty i n ex

resol ves t ri
plai n i ng h o w H am il ton M oore
an g les o n th e s urface o f a S phere i nto pl ane
tri an g les
H am ilto n M oore honest man
gives h i msel f no uneas in ess about resol v i n g
h is tria n gles h e takes them as he nds them
an d consideri n g them as plane triangl es
sol ves h is p robl ems ve ry com fo rtably (I b e
l ieve Lesl ie h as a note i n h is Trigo n o m e t iy
,

ca

n i neteenth ed i t i on of J ohn H am i lton

was
p
ubl
i
shed
i
n
ondon
in
8
t
L
g

T he

l Aa

vz

or

oore s

ra c/ i

72

E T TE RS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YL E

8 16

ex plai n i n g the m ethod o f reduci ng th e angl es

of a spherical t riangl e to the plane trian g l e
fo rm ed by i ts cho rds ) I read ily agree w i th
y ou th at M oo re s rules are ve ry defect ive h is
rem arks are O fte n qu ite stupid fo r i nstance
h is statement (not i ced by H umbold t ) th at th e
attractio n of a boat to a sh ip o r a sh ip to
a rock i s caused by gra vita t io n
A S im ilar
p he nom enon m ay b e w i tnessed by caus i ng two
pieces of wood to oat o n a bowl o f water
and all m en kn ow th at i t i s caused by capi llary
att ract io n I h ave neve r see n K eith s Tr igo
n o m et r
and
th
erefore
can
not
tel
l
you
anyth
i
ng
y
about i t I am gl ad to hear that you are get
t i ng forward s o wel l wi th H omer I k now
al most n oth i ng abou t h i m hav i ng never read
anyth i ng but Pope s t ranslation and no t abov e
a s ingl e book o f th e o rigi nal and that s ev eral
years ago I ndeed I k now v e ry l i ttl e o f th e
G reek at any rate I have seve ral t i m es begu n
to read X e nopho n s A n a a s is compl etely ; b ut
al ways gave i t up i n favou r o f som eth i ng else
Y ou com pl ai n that noth i n g that you do leaves
a vestige beh i nd i t wh at do you m ake o f
.

8 16

TO

[M R

BE R T

RO

MI T CH

E LL

73

H omer ? For my part I can not well s a y

what I hav e been abou t s i nce I wrote to you
last O u t o f a co ns iderabl e quant ity o f garbage
wh ich I h ave allowed mysel f at d i ffere nt i nter
to d evou r I h av e o nl y to m entio n
t e rv a ls
C rabbe s P oem s as worthy o f bei ng read
In
addi tio n to great powers o f correct descri pt ion
he possesses a ll th e sagac i ty of an anatom ist
i n s earch i n g i nto the sto rm y pass io ns o f the
human heart and al l th e apath y o f an anato
m ist i n desc ri bi ng them
Fo r the rest I
co nt i n ued read i ng N ewto n s P rin c i ia wi th
co nsi de rable perseverance an d l ittl e s uccess
til l o n arri v i ng a s hort way i nto the th i rd book
I d iscovered that I had too l ittl e k nowledge
o f astronomy to u nd ers tand h is reason i n g
rightl y A nd I fo rth wi th sen t to E d i nbu rgh

fo r D el amb re s A orcfgc d A st ro n o m ie and i n

the m ean ti me betook mysel f to read i ng Wood s
Op t ics
I can not s a y m uch abou t th is book
I ts au thor i ntermeddles no t wi th th e abs truse

arts
o
f
th
e
sc
ience
such
as
th
e
causes
p
o f re flectio n an d refraction th e reaso n wh y
trans p aren t bod ies at g ive n a n g les O f i ncidence
.

'

LE T TERS

74

OF

TH O[MA S

CA RL

YL E

18 16

re ect the i r l i g h t al mos t e nti rely (co nce rn ing

wh ich I m eet w ith m any learned d etails i n th e
E n cyc lop e dia B r ita n n ic a ) bu t co ntents h i m sel f
wi th demo nst rati n i n a pl ai n e nough man ner
th e ord i nary effects o f plane an d S ph eri cal
m i rro rs and o f l enses o f various k i nds
applyi ng h is doctri nes to th e explanation o f
various opt ical i nstrum e nts and rem arkable
ph enomena B u t i n truth I k now l i ttl e about
i t ; I read i t w i th too great veloc ity I al so
read K eill s I n t ro du c t io a d ve ra m P/zysica m ;
bu t I sh al l let i t pass t i ll nex t t im e I wri te
I n ne D elamb re arri ved ; and I h av e read
i nto h is fou rth L epo n an d l i ke i t greatly I
i ntended to have tol d you som e of h is observa
tio ns bu t I wo ul d not overwh el m yo u w i th
e n nu i all at o nce an d the refo re I shal l be
s il ent at presen t [Ve q u id n im is as th e p ro
verb saith
O n F riday we enj oyed th e soc iety o f
B rother S a ffe ry o f S al i sbu ry a sol i ci to r (of
,

g
g

J oh n

to 7
va l ue
1

2 1

was S ili Professor at O xford from 7 9

was a vo l uminous writer and h is works had

e ill

He

a v

a n

8 16

TO

MR

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH E L L

75

m one y ) for t he bene t o f th e B aptist M iss io n

I was rathe r d isappoi nted i n the appearan ce of
th is perso n T he nam e o f a m iss io nary s u g
gests the idea O f a l ean an d morti ed ascet i c
t ravel l i ng w i th h is staff and scrip an d wi th
p ious avari ce hoard i ng fo r th e behoo f o f h is
b reth ren th e s canty donat io ns o f a p recarious
.

chari ty B rothe r S a ffe ry was th e reve rse o f

all th is ; H e arri ved i n a pos t chaise and was
a tall m an o f a o ri d complex io n an d v ery
g reat d iam ete r N ev ertheless i t was easy to
s e e that h is was no commo n characte r
H is
b ro w was k n i t together very gloom i ly and
h is vo ice (natural l y a deep to ned bass ) was com
pressed i nto an i nharmo n ious wh i ne al l de
noti n g p ro fou nd h um il ity and pass ive obed ience
H e spoke o f the d es i g ns o f P rov idence and th e
p roj ects o f th e D evi l wi th great sa n g ro id ; and
q uoted l ar g ely from the S crip tu re back i ng h is
quotat ions wi th W il tsh i re p rove rbs and othe r
base r stu ff o f h is ow n com posi tion H is co n
v ersation you w il l eas il y bel iev e then was very
oppress iv e I ndeed so s tron g l y d id i t savou r
o f stup id ity i f not o f som eth in g wo rse that I
.

ERS

76

LE TT

TH O[MA S

OF

CA RL

YLE

1 8 16

coul d not percei ve i t to be at all a press i ng

du ty to put m oney i nto the hands o f persons
l ike h im fo r any pu rpose whatev er H o wev e r
B rothe r S a ffe ry had no great room for m is
g u id i ng th e tal en t com m i tted to h is care b y
the peopl e o f A n nan i nasm uch as sai d tale nt
amou n ted o nl y to t wo pou nds fou r sh ill i ngs
and S i xpence a sum wh ich co ns ideri ng the
t roubl e h e pu t h i msel f to was tri i n g e nough
I t i s p ity that the m iss ionaries cant s o v iol en tly
T here i s no doubt that m any o f th em are seri
ous wel l m ean i ng m e n yet i t woul d be too
m u ch to expect th at i n such a number there
s hould not be seve ral w i th who m the p ro
a
a t io n O f C h ristian i ty i s far from bei ng th e
p g
prim ary obj ect ; and o f the best i t i s to be
regretted th at the i r zeal i s not tempered by a
l i ttl e m ore pruden ce
I had several othe r m atters to w ri te about ;
but my paper d raws to a C lose Y et I can no t
forbear noti ci ng that strange proj ec t o f go i ng
to F rance wh i ch you tal k o f
P ossibly i t
m igh t be ext remely pleasant
but th ere are
m any perplex i ng quest io ns to be answered
,

To

816

MR

RO

BE R T

M I T CH

EL L

77

be fore i t can be put i n executio n F i rst h ow

are we to get to F rance ; second how are we
to l i ve i n F rance ; an d th i rd wh at good will

l iv i ng i n F ran ce do to us
C h ill penu ry m y
dear M i tch ell here as i n o the r cases rep resses

ou r noble rage of v i s i ting th is cou ntry and

may be i t is no great m atte r Fo r i t m ay be
doubted o ne woul d th i nk wh ether a cou ntr y
i nhab ited by erce revol ut io n ists an d rascal ly
marauders and i m sy aris tocrats all s weati ng

u n der a fo re i g n and arbi trary yoke woul d b e

a t place fo r an honest m an to dwell in ifh e
coul d hel p i t A t any rate i t seems I am to
stay neare r home for a wh ile F o r you m us t
k now I have recei ved two l etters from P ro
fe s s o r C h ri st iso n concern i ng the s i tuatio n o f
Teacher to the Parish S chool o f K i rkcaldy o r
rath er I bel ieve ass is tan t to th e presen t
teach er who (bei ng a v ery usel ess m an ) has
a g reed to res i g n upon co ns iderati o n of bei ng
allowed to retai n h i s sal ary retai n i n g also the
n am e w i thou t any o f th e po we r o f Parish
I can no t s a y th at I am v io
S chool maste r
T he e mol um en t
le n t ly take n wi th th is o ffe r
.

78

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R L

YL E

816

is rated about a hu nd red a year b ut there

appear to be som e am b igui t ies abou t i t wh i ch
I do not u nderstand ; and I hav e w ri tten to
them that i f th ey shoul d l i ke to wait I coul d
com e to E d i nbu rgh i n A u tum n and tal k wi th
th em about the place and i f they shoul d not
l ike to wait that th ere would be an e nd o f the
matter
A n d there i t s tands
I w ish you
woul d send m e as long a l etter as th is by
th is day week I wi sh al so that yo u woul d
com e down an d s e e m e s a y o n a S aturday
when the ti de i s about m id day and then we
m igh t cross th e wate r to S k i nbu rness Wri te
soo n send m e Wes t s E xe rc ise th at I m en
l ast t im e
and bel ieve m e d ear
t io n e d
M i tchell yours ever
T H O M A S CA R LY L E
-

p roje c t re ferre d t o i n t h e p re c e d i n g l tter o f l a v i n g

A n nan an d b e c o m i n g m aster o f t he s c h o o l at K i r kc a l d y too k
e ffe c t C ar lyl e i n h is R m i i
i 9 8 qq g i v es an
a cc o u n t o f th e c ir c u m stan c es o f th is c han g e It rst
g reat resu l t was th e m a k i n g frien d sh i p wit h E d war d I r v i n g
B l esse d c o n q u est o f a Frie n d i n th is wor l d !
T h at was
m ai n ly a ll th e wea l th I ha d f or six y ears c o m i n g an d
i t m a d e m y l i fe i n K ir kc a l d y (i t i ll near 8 9 I th i n k ) a
ha ppy seaso n i n c om p arison an d a g en ia lly se fu l Y o u t h
The

n scen ces,

ve

or

[MR

TO

8 16

RO

B ER T

[MI T CH E L L

79

itse l f h ea l t h y w e ll i nten d i n g y o u th is so fu ll o f o p
l e n c es ! I a l wa y s rat h er l i k e K ir kc a l d y to t h is d a y A n nan
i
th e re v e rse rat h er st i ll w he n it g
c o m e int o m y
hea d an d m y so l itar y q uasi e n c hante d p osit i o n am o n g
t h em u n p e rm itt e d t o k i ck t h e m i nt o th e sea
u

u eu ser es

XIII

T o

M r R O B E RT M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M
,

NN A N

3 d A u gu st

a n se

816

M Y D E A R LA D Y o u w ill eas ily guess

by
the speedi ness w ith wh i ch I h ave answered
you r l etter that I am an xious to be rei nstated
i n y ou r favo u r We h av e i ndee d wri tte n to
o ne another m uch too seldom o f l ate I s u p
pose a good part o f th e blam e i s m y o wn
but I w ill no t take i t all
L et us t ry to
be m ore re g ular i n future
I was at a loss
what to m ake o f th e rs t part o f yo ur lette r
I could have l au g hed at the causes wh ich
you r sagac ity has po i nted out fo r th e m is
take had I not bee n g rieved at th e m istake
i tsel f
Y ou ex p ec t m y expl anatio n bu t i n
t ruth I am unabl e to g ive any expl anatio n o f
the m atte r I am al to g e the r un consc ious o f
h av i n g m en t ioned any p articular S atu rda y fo r
,

L E T TE R S

80

OF

TH OJ IA S

CA R

L YLE

1816

ou r excu rs io n ; an d had I don e s o I can not

co nce ive h o w I s houl d h av e h i t o n that day
you speak of for I m ust h av e k now n th at th e
t ide woul d not serve I f you h ave not de
stroyed that l etter I th i nk you will nd i n i t
th at I w ished you to com e o n the rs t S atu rday
that woul d s ui t ou r pu rpose B ut i n real i ty i t
was l ate at n igh t o r rathe r early i n the morni ng
before I n ished that i m mense ep istl e and I
dare s a y I w a s hal f asl eep ov er the l atter part
of i t ; and s o I can not vo uch for its contents
B ut l et us be o f com fo rt I h av e looked i n to
the B e lfa st To w n a n d Co u n t ry A lm a n a c
and consul ted several cu n n i ng m en o n th e
subj ect and from all quarters I collect that
th e m oo n w ill be ful l about one o f th e
clock o n th e m o rn i ng o f T hursday th e 8 t h
i nst s o that i n all h um an probab il ity th e
t i me o f full s e a nex t S atu rday afte r that wil l
b e between I an d 2 o clock ; a t i me that w il l
answe r ou r pu rpose v ery wel l N o w i f not
withstand ing you r l ate d isappo i ntm ent you
coul d be i nduced to com e to A nnan abou t
t wel ve o clock th at day w e coul d eat a morsel
,

T O [MR

816

BE R T

RO

[MI T CH

EL L

81

o f d i n ner together an d forth wi th embark fo r

C umberland I am anx ious that you s houl d
come for I w is h to s e e you ; and th is will be
a pleasant enough way of S pend i ng th e time ;
and bes ides it w il l do no harm to you it m ay
happe n to b e of serv ice Wri te o n Tues day i f
you can ; and at any rate o n T h ursday an d let
m e k now i f you can co me
I am v ery glad that you hav e m et wi th a
book o f N atural P h ilosophy th at you l i ke
S end m e yo u r demo nstratio n (o r b ri ng it ) o f
the accel erated m o tio n I retu rn al ways to the
study o f P hys ics wit h m o re pl easure after t ry i ng
th e P h ilosophy o f M i nd !
I t i s del igh tful
after wanderi ng i n the th i ck dark ness o f m eta
ph y s ics to behol d a g ai n th e fai r face of truth
W he n w ill there arise a m an w ho w ill do fo r
th e scie n ce o f M i nd what N ewton d id fo r that
o f M atte restabl ish i ts fundamental laws o n th e
rm basis o f i nd uction and discard fo r eve r
those absurd theo ries that s o m any d reamers
hav e dev ised
I bel ieve th is i s a fool ish ques

f0 r i ts answe r i s neve r
tion
I am l ed to
tal k i n th i s man ne r by hav i n g lately read
.

VOL

82

E T TERS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

18 16

s H is to ry of P/cilo sop /Iy i n the S uppl e

men t to th e E n cy c lopce dia B rita n n ica
I doubt
I am go ing to d i splease you but I m ust s a y
that I do not recollect o f ever h av i ng bestowed
as m uch atten tio n wi th s o l i ttl e effect u po n
any autho r as upo n P rofesso r S tewart L et
m e s tudy h i s w ri ti ngs a s I l ike m y m i nd seem s
onl y to turn o n i ts axi s b ut wi thout p rogress
i ve o r retrograde m otio n at al l D u ri n g these
eightee n months fo r exampl e h av e I been at
ti mes l abouri ng to comp rehen d th e d i fference
between the p rim a ry a n d seco n da ry qu a lit ie s
of bod i es an d my l abou r h as al ways been i n
vai n C an you resolv e m e th i s d i fculty ? I
can eas ily see that Ee a t (a seco ndary qual i ty )
h as two m ean i ngs e i ther i t m eans th e sensa
t io n i n our m i nd o r i t m eans th e d ispos i tio n
of th e parti cles o f the body that causes th is
sensat ion : b ut is not hard ness (and th e oth er
pri m ary qual it ies ) i n th e sam e p red icam ent ?
I d es i g ned to s a y m any othe r th i ngs but
Post J oh n i s about to s e t out and I mu st hol d
my h and W ri te m e at the t i m e I m en tioned
an d s e e i f you can come at the ti m e spec i

S tewart

T O [MR

816

BER T

ELL

[MI T CH

RO

83

ed

I hav e many th i ngs to S how you and

tel l you and ask you I rem ai n i n the m ean
t i m e (ln great haste ) m y dear friend yours
t ru ly
T H O M A S CA R L Y LE
.

XIV
To M r
.

R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M
.

M A IN H I LL, 1

3 t h N o vem ber

M Y D E A R M I T C H E LL I S h al l

a n se

8 16

fo r
E di n bu rgh to mo rrow m orn i ng ; and before
go i n g I have be g u n (as i n du ty bou nd ) to give
you an accoun t o f m y procedu re I have done
noth i ng at all s i nce I s a w you bu t pu t off my
ti me I was S ick two o r th ree days ; and went
ove r to A llonby to recreate mysel f I retu rned
from A ll onby i n th ree days an d rem ai ned
se t

Ou t

m
y
F
ather
became
armer
of
a
wet
clayey
F
(
[
]
s p ot called M i h ill) i n 8 5 that so he m ig ht kee p al l h i s
fam i ly about h im stru gg led w i th h i s old valou r and here too
"
p reva i l ed
i 6
A bout t w m iles d i stant
from E cclefechan on the l eft hand s i de as you g o towards
Lo c kerby there stands about three hundred yards i n from the
road a so l itary low wh i tewashed cotta g e w i th a few p oor out
bu i l din g s attached to i t T h i s i s M i h ill wh i ch was now for
many years to be C arlyle s d
l he s i tuat i on i s h ig h
utterly bleak and swe p t by ll the w inds
T h view alone
redeems the d rear i ness of the situation F roude Lif i p 3 5

He

'

o n /e

LE T TER S

84

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

1816

m ostly at home wait i ng w ith patien ce for th e

day o f m y departure wh ich at length i s near
at hand
I am gl ad yo u got o n s o wel l w i th you r
m athemat ics
Y ou r demo nst rat ion o f that

theorem of West about the t riangl e wh ic h

yo u sen t m e i s v ery s i mpl e an d neat m uch
better than m i ne as far as I can recol lect
I have got noth i ng to s end yo u o f any u s e
u nless yo u th i nk of i nserti ng th e followi ng
p roblem ; wh ich notwi th standi ng th e tech n ical
j argo n w ith wh ich i t i s e nv eloped i s after all
a s illy enough p iece of wo rk
Y o u w ill per
c e ive
that i t is a general sol ution of th e
p robl em con cern i ng a part i cul ar case o f wh ich
M r Wh i te was s o facet ious above two years
ago I t i s al m ost th e o nly th ing I have done
s i nce I s a w you : and as I now w ri te i t ou t for
th e rst t i me I am no t w ithout apprehens ions
o f errors i n the com putation though s u re enough
o f the p ri ncipl e B ut i f yo u propos e i t I shal l
have t i m e e nough to gi ve i t a rev i sal before a
solutio n i s requ i red
,

Via

i n the

D u mfri es Co u ri er, M r

D un c an s news p a p er

817

TO

[MR

BE R T

M I T CH

RO

EL L

85

B ut here is J oh nstone w ith i ntel l igence that

m y i ntended c o mp a gn o n de voy a ge can not go
to morrow ; an d I m ust O ff i n the coach to
n igh t a t s ix o clock
N igh t th i ckens and the
crow m akes wi ng to th e rooky wood
I hav e
not a mom en t to lose
Goo d bye m y dear
M i tchell
Y ou S hall hear o f m e ere l ong
Y ours ever
T H M A CA R Y
-

XV
To M r
.

LE

R O B E RT M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
,

K I R K CAL DY

1 2 t /z

F e Oru

a r
y

817

se

M Y D E A R S IR I yesterday rece ived a letter

from ou r friend J oh nstone who tells m e th at

you are greatl y asto n ished at m y long s ilence
A nd i n t ruth yo u h av e som e reaso n but you are
wid e O f th e m ark i n th e hypoth es i s wh ich you
hav e fo rm ed to accoun t fo r t he phe nomenon
I am certai nl y m uch d issati s ed w i th you r co n
d uct ; but th i s coul d o nl y have i nduced m e to
w ri te wi th g reate r v eh em e nce an d cel e ri ty
T he truth is I be g an you a l ette r abou t th ree
weeks after m y arri val i n th i s place and had
proceeded a g reat way whe n some stupid
,

86

E T TE R S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

817

bus i ness o r other i nterrupted m e ; and the paper

was th rown by fo r ten days
I began anoth er
w i th renovated zeal and had actually got to th e
l as t page when you r l ette r from E d i nburg h
arri ved an d struck m e dumb w i th gri ef and
s urprise
I was i n a s a d tak i ng
T o th i n k
that m y very last em ploym e nt before l eav i ng
home was wri ti ng to you that I had calculated
the weeks an d days that m ust elapse befo re
the mo nth o f M arch coul d b ri ng us together
to hol d a sol em n co nference touch ing al l that
S houl d con ce rn u s ; an d then to hear i n the
m idst o f my cal culat ion s that though d uri ng a
fortn igh t you were w ith i n te n m il es o f me
that though i n two hou rs from an y gi ve n poi nt
of t im e you m ight have bee n transported to
my h ab i tatio n you cam e not n ear m e ! I t
was a dog s t ri ck M i tchell Li ttl e p revented
m e from th row i ng down my i mpl eme nts an d
cross i ng th e sal t s e a to s eek you h ad I
k now n to what quarter o f the great c i ty my
search m ust be d i rected
A l l that remai ned
fo r m e the n was by writi ng a m ost abus ive
l ette r to s how you ho w m uch the galled j ade
.

817

[MR

TO

R O E R T [MI T CH

EL L

87

w ill w i nce
B ut alas ! no sooner had I col
le c t e d m y e nergi es for th i s e nterp rise than a
so re th roat s eized m e and (after a protracted
struggl e o n my part ) co n ned m e nearl y a
whol e week to m y room M y heart d ied w ith
i n me at the s igh t o f th e gargles and boluses
an d bl isters w i th wh i ch I was assailed : and t ill
t wo days ago I was abl e to th i nk o f noth i ng
bu t the s i ck ness and so rrow to wh ich mo rtal
m an i s s ubj ect i n th is m iserabl e pl anet T h is
i s th e reaso n o f my s ile nce Y ou w ill perceive
that the blam e rests w i th yo u and fortune I
am faul tless o r nearl y s o S till I am i n a
v ery considerabl e ra g e agai ns t you Whether

m i ne an g e r shal l abate upo n co ns ideratio n

o f a lon g l etter speed il y se nt m e I k now not
b ut I w ish you woul d make the experi ment
J oh nston e w il l have told yo u al l about my co n
d i t io n and O pe rations i n th is lon g and d i rty
town ; an d i t would bu t fati g ue you to repeat
th e statement I am su f c ientl y com fo rtable ;
and feel cons iderabl y l ess spl ee n an d e n nu i
than I used to do at A n nan M y hab i ts hav e
bee n so m uch d eran g ed by chan g e o f place
.

LE T TER S

88

OF

TH O/l/ A S

CA R L

YLE

181

that I have not yet got rightl y settled to my

s tudi es
I have read l ittl e s i nce I s a w yo u ; and o f
that l i ttle I doub t I have not made the bes t
use
H ave you seen P lay fai r s I ntroductory
E ssay i n the E n cy clop e dia
I am su re you
will l i ke i t I t is d isti ngu ished for i ts elegance
and persp icu i ty I perused i t some weeks ago
and though t i t greatly preferabl e to S tewart s
I ndeed I h av e ofte n tol d yo u that I am som e
wh a t d ispleased w ith m ysel f because I can not
adm i re th is great ph ilosopher hal f as m uch as
m any c ri ti cs do H e is s o v ery stately s o
t ranscendental and withal s o u n i n tell igible th at
I cannot look upo n h i m w ith th e needful ve ne r
ation I was read i ng th e s eco nd vol um e o f h is
P ilosop y of t/z e H u m a n M in d l ately
I t is
pri nc ipally devo ted to th e co ns ideratio n o f
T he greater part o f the book i s take n
R easo n
up with s tatements of the opi n ions o f others ;
and i t ofte n requi red all m y penetrat io n to d is
cover wh at the A uthor s own v i ews o f t he
matter were
H e tal ks m uch about A nalys is
an d M athemati cs and d isports h i m very pl eas
.

TO M R

817

ly

RO

BER T

M I T CH

EL L

89

pon g eom etri cal reaso n ing ; bu t l eaves

what is to m e th e pri n cipal d i f cul ty u n
touched T el l m e i f you h av e read i t Y o u
h ave n o doubt s een th e Ta les of my L a n dlo rd
C ertai nl y W a ve rley an d M a n n e ring and the
B la ck D w a rf we re n ever wri tte n by th e sam e
perso n
I f I m istake not D r M C rie s s trict
u res are a l ittle too sev ere o n s om e occas ions
and h is l ove o f th e C am eron ians too v iolent
T he wo rthy D octor s humou r i s as h eavy as
l ead
I am afraid you are t i red o f th is
I t i s very com fortable that you and S am uel
C o wan g o o n s o lov i ngly together I am u n
acquai nted wi th your l ucub rat ions ; fo r I hav e
no t seen a Co u r ie r s i nce I left D u m friessh i re
L on g ago w he n I was i n E d i nbu rgh I had
d emonstrated a th eorem fo r you r behoo fbu t
I h ave n earl y fo rg ot i t now I th in k i t m ay

be enu nc iated th us :
I f th e d iam ete r o f a
c i rcl e b e d iv ided i nternal ly an d externall y i n
the sam e ratio th e s traigh t l i nes d rawn from
on e of the po i n ts o f sectio n to th e ext rem i t ies
o f the cho rd pass in g th rou g h th e othe r w il l
make equal an g les w i th th at d iamete r
It
a nt

ER S

L E TT

90

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

18 1

bears som e analo g y to o ne o f M athew S tewart s

Y o u w ill get the demo nstratio n wel l e nough
J oh ns to ne tells m e that M r D u ncan h as e n
gaged a certai n M r M D ia rm id to ass ist
h i m i n con ducti ng th e paper I th i n k I h av e
heard o f th i s person s speeches i n th e foru m
and also that h i s w i t was very great I hope
i n h is hand the torch o f eloque nce wil l bu rn
bright and sh ed a stro ng ray o f i n tel lectual
l igh t ove r th e whol e d is tri ct
I h ave not been i n E d i nbu rgh s i nce you left
i t ; and there fore I can gi ve l i ttl e n ew s fro m
th at quarter Y ou r cou ntrym an F rank D ixo n
cam e i nto th e tow n a few days ago ; an d I
bel iev e h e i nten ds to re mai n i f h e can O btai n
employm en t
H e was i n th is place l as t week
v is i ti ng E d ward I rv i ng
H e i s a fellow o f
i n n i te j est and spares no pai ns to keep h is
company i n co nv uls ions A v ariety O f works
.

readers of C ar l y l e s R
wi ll re c a ll th e
g ure of th i s A nnanda l e R abe la i s
a notab l e kind f man

and one of the memorab i lit ies ;

a most qui in g merry
entertainin g g u i l e less and unmali c ious man ; w ith very c on
id
b l l o gi c read i n g c ontem p tuous observat i on and i
mu c h rea l tenderness too et c et c i 4 5
t llig
1

Th e

'

'

en zz n z s ce n c e s

e ra

en ce,

zz

T O [MR

817

RO

BER T

[MI T CH E LL

91

hav e been begu n abo ut th e n ew year (as i s

the fash ion ) i n th e

period ical l i n e
A
weekly newspaper th e S c o ts m a n has reached
th e th i rd n u mber
I h av e seen them al l
a l ittl e v iol en t i n the i r W h ig g ism ; bu t
wel l enough wri tten i n som e places Pilla n s
and J effrey and M o ncrieff an d many others
h ave been respecti vely n am ed as th e E d ito r
T here i s also a weekl y essay Tlze S a le R o o m
begu n about S i x weeks ago b y wh om I k no w
not
T h e wri ters are not wi thou t ab il ities ;
bu t the last num bers seem ed to i nd i cate that
th e work was abo u t to gi ve u p the g host I
u nders tand you had the famous D r S p u rz h e im
among y ou l atel y exam i n i ng th e head o f G eorge
Ross
What said th e sage cran ioscop ist about
?
th is wo nde rful bein g
A n d wh at do you th i n k
O f h is doctri ne o f skul ls ?
Fo r m ysel f hav i ng
neve r bee n w i th i n the sphere o f h i s i n fluence
.

or igi nally a d i sc i p le f C al l had come to

E n g land i n
8 3 when he was thi rty seven years old ful l of
enthus i asm to p ro p a g ate h is new doctrine of p h reno l o g y H
was rece i ved w i th es p ec i al favou r i n S cot l and and g a i ned a
larg e follow i n g there amon g those whose heads were not as
hard as C ar l yle s
1

S p u rz h e im ,
1

92

E T TE RS

OF

TH OM A S

CA R

L YLE

817

there i s l i ttle m eri t i n be i ng sceptical

I own
h is system seems to m e to be a m ass o f crud e
hypotheses wi th a v i le S ho w of i nductio n abou t
it calculated to i m pose o nl y upo n the lazy
and wo n der lov i ng I s a y s do w O f i nductio n
fo r i t seem s from th e natu re O f th e case to
requ i re a n umber o f experi men ts al mos t im
m ense to establ ish any o n e o f i ts pos i t io ns
T here are i t seems th ree and th i rty b umps
upo n the hum an headpiece wh i ch the D octo r
says are facult ies N ow any pecul iar ch aracte r
m ay hav e origi nated fro m o ne o f these o r
fro m two o r m ore of t hem o r from th e whol e
togethe r C al culate th e comb i natio ns that can
b e m ade of th i rty th ree bumps and allow fo r
th e o rigi nal co nst itut io n o f the m i nd and you
w i l l requ i re I bel ieve m il l ion s o f i nstances to
pro ve the t itl e o f o ne s i ngl e bu mp to the nam e
o f o rgan T el l m e what you th i nk o f th i s
I am very m uch afrai d that you w il l th i nk

th is letter dull I th i nk i t s o mysel f but what

can I help i t ? B e as content wi th i t as you
can I am longi ng greatly to hear from you
L et m e k now al l that yo u are read ing and s a y
.

TO M R

817

B ER T

RO

[ MI T CH

ELL

93

i n g and th i nk i ng S tand not upo n ceremony

but send m e a very long close wri tte n letter
w i th al l th e speed i m agi nable R emember m e
k i ndly to M r and M rs D un can an d to al l
about th e M anse th at care fo r m e Write
soon Good n ight my ol d friend ; I am i n a
hu rry fo r th e pos t hou r i s n earl y com e
.

T H OM A S CA RLY LE
X V I TO

M r R O B E RT M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
.

K I R K CA LDY

3 1 s t M a rc/I

817

se

M Y D E A R M I TC H E LL C ertai nl y you r letter

ou g ht to h av e been answered be fore th is B ut

i t seem s to be th e fate o f al l my l ucubratio ns
to be beh i nd the i r t i m e
I h av e no excuse
to o ffer except o f cou rse no t i m e and
no subj ect and I n eed not aggravate m y
o ffence by tak i n g u p you r ti m e longer wi th
d iscuss i n g it
I f you shall be g raciousl y
pleased to pardo n m e I prom ise to beh ave i n
fu tu re as becometh m e I h ave noth i ng s u r
pris i ng to tel l you
I mysel f am l ead i ng a q u ie t
and peaceabl e l i fe ; and m y ne i g h bou rs l ike
.

94

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA RL

YLE

181

eve ry other pe rso n s ne i g hbours are excl aim i ng

agai nst th e h ard ness O f th e t i mes and praisi ng
o r blam i ng th e proceed i ngs o f the Governm en t

acco rd i ng as th e l ate s tren g then i ng o f the

hands o f th e E xecut i ve happens to stri ke
thei r m ental O pt i cs
We h ad t wo lectu res
upo n th e patho g nom y of D rs G al l an d S p u rz
he i m lately
T he cran ioscopist was a M r
A l len a Y o rksh ire m an who has been e x

poun d i ng th e doctri n es o f
chem ical ph ilo
S ophy amongst us fo r th e las t th ree mo nth s
H e seem s to possess talents but to be very
m uch add icted to b uildi ng hypotheses
On
th is occas ion h e had th e hono u r of add ressi ng
all that was ri ch and fai r and l earned i n the
bu rgh A fter co ns iderable ourish i ng h e ve n
t u re d to p roduce th is ch il d of the D octor s
b rai n and truly i t seem ed a v ery S o o t e rk in
I h av e s i nce looked i nto the D octor s book
and i f poss ibl e the case i s wo rse C e rtai n l y
i t is not true t hat ou r i ntel lectual an d m oral
,

I t is re p orted of the D utch women that makin g so g reat

a use of stoves an d often p utt i n g them under the i r p ett i coats

they en g ender a k i nd of u g ly monster whi ch i s cal led a t
N ote to H d b
p art i i i canto i i 4 6 T C
t
,

s o o er

'

ez n

ra s ,

817

MR

To

RO

BER T

M I T CH

EL L

95

and phys ical powers are j um bled i n such hu g e

d isorder ; su rely i t w ill be marvellous i f th ese
powers can be de ned and est imated wi th such
math em at i cal prec is ion from th e s iz e an d gu re
o f the s kull
I t i s v ery s ill y to s a y that
S p u rz h e im h as de m o n st ra t ed all th is ; S p u rz
h e im has d em onstrated noth i ng F o r a ny th i ng
he k no ws to th e co nt rary th e facult ies o f the
soul are to b e as certai n ed by th e gu re an d

S ize of th e abdom en if the venerable sc ience

o f P al m ist ry i s not to be rev iv ed
I t is in
v ai n to rai l agai nst th e oppos itio n show n to
novelt ies ; th e doctri ne i s not to be rej ected
fo r i ts novelty but fo r i ts want O f truth
N ei the r does i t serve any pu rpose to tel l us
o f th e m any i nge n ious perso ns wh o support i t
A century h as not el apsed s i n ce D r B erkeley
w rote a book o n th e v i rtues o f T ar wate r
and th e l earned i n E urope we re lou d i n i ts
: y et
i
raise
now
tar
water
s accou nted v ile
p
S o i t m ay fare wi th S p u rz h e im
N eve rtheless
A l le n h as conve rted th e l i e g es o f K i rkcald y
S o stron g is the des i re wh i ch we al l feel o f
k nowi n g th e characte r tal en ts and t liS p o s it io n
.

LE T TE RS

96

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

817

o f o u r nei g hbou r an d s o deep is th e regret

that
N at u r e h as m a d e h is b r e ast n o w i n d ores
T o p u b l is h w h at h e d o e s w it h i n d o o rs
,

that (to sa y noth i ng o f othe r i ndu cements )

cran iology i f u rged wi th a p roper quant ity o f
dogm atism w ill nd m any bel ieve rs
A nd
why not ? S i p op u lu s vu lt dec ip i de c ip ia t u r
I was i n E d i nbu rgh two weeks ago ; but
there was noth i n g wo rthy of notice tak i ng
place I heard L esl ie gi ve a lectu re o n H eat :
i t d isplayed great i nge nu i ty b ut h i s e xp e ri
H i s G eom etry i s to
m e nts d i d not succeed
be ou t i n a few days I i nten ded to h ave
en rolled i n the D i v i n i ty H al l ; bu t the i r D octo r
was too bus il y engaged othe rwise to attend
1
to m e
H e h ad been quarrell i ng wi th h i s
,

I rvin g s visits and m ine to E d i nburg h were most l y

to g ether and had a l ways thei r attra c tion for us i n the meetin g
w ith o l d acqua i ntan c es and objects of interest but ex c e p t from
the books p ro c ure d cou l d not be a cc ounted of i m p ortan c e
O one of those visits m y l ast feeble tatter of c onne c tion with
D ivinity H al l i or c l eri c a l out l ooks was allowed to sna p
i tse lf and fall de ni te l y to the g round O ld D r R it c hie not
at home when I c a ll ed to enter myse l f G ood answered
I l et the omen be fu l ll ed
R m i
i
5
1

'

rs

z n s cen ces ,

1 1

181

TO

[M R

B ER T

RO

M I T CH E L

97

s tudents about the m anagemen t o f the l ibrary

and the com m ittee wh ich h as been appoi nted
to draw up regulat io ns fo r th e managem ent o f
it h a d that v ery day s ubm itted them to the
D octo r and h is studen ts assembl ed i n th e H al l
They gav e m u ch d issat is factio n to the D octor
an d imm ed iately (as I was told fo r I was not
there ) the re was great con fus ion and several
speeches v i tuperativ e and obj urgatory passed
among them ; t il l at l ast th e m ut i neers to the
n u mber o f fty adj ourned to a neighbouri ng
school room co n s t rep it a and val iantl y dre w
up twel ve resol u tions pro clai m i ng thei r grie v
a n c e s and thei r determ i natio n to appl y to th e
P resbytery fo r adv i ce T h e S e natus A c a de m i
cus has s i nce taken up th e case ; and as the
comm i ttee appo i nted to dec i de o n i t co ns ists o f
M e iklejo h n R itch i e and B run to n i t i s easy to
see ho w th e affai r w il l end Y ou r p ictu re o f
th i s H all and the d udgeo n i t seem s to have
exci ted i n you g ave m e g reat am useme n t I
h ave no t been wi th i n i ts wal ls fo r many mo nths
and I know not whethe r I shall e ve r retu rn
but all accounts ag ree i n represe nt ing i t as
,

V OL

11

98

E T TERS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

18 17

one o f the m os t m elanchol y and u np rotabl e

co rporations that has appeared i n these parts
for a great wh ile I f we are to j udge o f th e
k i n d o f P rofessors we S houl d get from th e
E d i nbu rgh K i rk by th e sampl e we al ready
possess i t i s devoutl y to be w ished that the i r
V is i ts m ay b e s hort an d far between
I t m ay
safely b e asserted that though the D octors
R itch ie j u n io r an d sen ior w ith D r M e ikl e
j oh n D r B run ton an d D r B rown were to
cont i nue i n the i r chai rs doz i ng i n th ei r p resen t
fash ion for a centu ry al l the k nowl edge wh ich
they could d iscover woul d be an i mperceptibl e
quanti ty if i ndeed i ts s i g n were no t negat ive
We ough t to be som ewhat sorry fo r the
D i v i n i ty H al l ; b u t ou r gri ef need not stop
h ere I f we follow i ts m em bers i nto the worl d
and O bserve thei r desti nat io n we sh al l n d i t
very p iti ful W i th the ex ceptio n o f the few
whom superio r talents o r better stars exempt
from th e com mo n fortu ne eve ry S cotch Lic e n
t ia t e m us t adopt o ne of two al te rnati ves
If
h e i s m ade of pl iant stu ff h e sel ects som e o ne
h av i n g authori ty before who m he bows w i th
.

TO M R

817

BE R T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

99

u nabat i ng alacri ty fo r (say ) hal f a score of

years and thereby obtai ns a K i rk whereupon
h e betakes h i m to collect h is st ipend and
unl
es
s
he
th
i
n
k
o
f
persecuti
ng
th
e
S
chool
(
m aster ) g ene rally in a few months falls i n to a
state of torpo r from wh ich h e rises no m ore
I f o n the other h and the soul o f th e L ice ntiate
i s stubborn and del ights not to ho nou r the
E squi res of the d istri ct h eartless and hope
less h e m ust d ra g out h is l i fe w ithout ai m o r
obj ect ve xed at every s tep to s e e s urpl i ces
al i g h ti ng on th e backs o f m an y who su rpass
h i m i n noth i n g but thei r lo ve fo r gra vy
T h is
i s th e resul t o f patronage and th is i s o ne o f
t he stages th rough wh ich every establ ished
C hu rch m ust pass i n i ts road to d issol utio n
N o govern ment ever fostered a C hurch u n
les s fo r i ts val ue as a S tate engi ne an d none
was ever i g noran t o f the i nsecu ri ty o f th is
en g i ne t ill i t i s pl aced u pon th e rock o f
atro
na
g
e
B
u
t
i
t
e
nds
not
he
re
T
hou
g
h
p
I woul d adv i se every youn g man (says D G oldsm i th )
at h is entrance i nto the world t /i/ g y I was once
d i s i nher i ted by an ol d U nc l e for not l i kin g g ravy (from
memory )
C
,

ce

ra v

1 00

E T TERS

OF

TH O[MA S

1817

CA R L YL E

al l consti tuted authori ties are ready to adm i t

that T ruth is great and wil l prev ail none hav e

v entured to l et thei r true rel igion descend

u nsupported i n to the arena and try i ts hand
at m aul i ng th e heres ies wh i ch oppose i t O n

the co ntrary ev ery true rel igio n is p ropped

and bolstered and the h ands o f i ts rivals t ied
up t il l by nurs i ng and fatten i ng i t has becom e
a bloated monste r that human natu re can no
longer l ook upo n and m en ri se up and knock
i ts brai ns out T he n there i s great j oy for a
s eason and forthwith a s uccessor is el ected
wh ich u ndergoes the sam e t reatm ent and i n
process o f t i me m eets wi th a s im ilar fate
S uch is th e dest i ny of C hu rches by l aw estab
lis h e d
Le t every one o f us b e as co ntented
w ith i t as poss ible and gi rd up h i s lo i ns to
attai n u nto a sh are o f the plate wh ilst the
game is good
I am glad that you l ike A dam S m ith I
agree wi th you very cord ially and regard h im
as one of the most honest and i ngen ious me n o f
h i s age o r i ndeed of any other H e is one o f
the very few writers who have not gone del i rious

R O E R T M I T CH E LL

T O [MR

817

101

when they came to treat of M etaphys ics H e

wrote h is W ea lt/i of N a t io n s i n a room not a
hu ndred yards from the place where I am
s itti ng and the me n of K irkcaldy are w ith
reason proud to remember h im
Y ou v iew
Lord B aco n with a d i fferen t eye ; and w i thout
doubt you have some reason to be scandal ised
at the adm i ratio n wi th wh ich he is treated
It
looks as i f ph ilosophers coul d not do w ithout
some one to worsh ip I t i s not lo ng S i nce they
tumbled poo r A ristotle from h is temple and i t
rests not w ith P layfai r and S tewart or B aco n
would soo n be exal ted i n h is stead I h ave
read l ittle o f any consequence s i nce I wrote to
you Y ou w il l have see n the last numbers of
the E din u rg/z an d Q u a rte rly R e vie w s I n the
l atte r among a great deal o f foul and nauseati ng
stu ff I was happy to s e e that due cred i t i s at
l ast give n to M r D u ncan for h is valuable in
I was read ing Pascal s L e tt res
s t it u t io n
.

enry D uncan the m inister of R uthwe ll near

D um fries (born 7 7 4 d i ed
to whose sons M itche ll was
t utor was a man of g ood sense and p ub l i c s p irit H had
establ i shed at R uthwell a l ar i sh B ank for the S avin g s of
the l ndustr i ous (the p arent of all modern S av i n g s B anks) ;
Mr

LE T T

1 02

P ro vin c ia les

ER S

OF

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CA R

L YL E

181

N one can hel p adm i ri ng h is w i t

and prob i ty H e sustai ns excellen tl y the char
acter of n a ive t e wh ich he has assumed and w i th
i nn ite dexteri ty hu nts the J esu its th rough all
the i r doubl i ngs and subterfuges til l he has
t riumphantly exposed the wretched baseness of
thei r conduct I t is p ity that the S alvation of
E u rope requ ired the re establ ishmen t of th is
V ile order o f men L as t week I perused V o n
B uch s Tra ve ls in N o rw a y a n d L ap la n d M uch
o f h is attent io n i s devoted to M i neralogy of
wh ich I am very ignorant and h is movements
are sometimes not a l ittle m ysterious from the
want of a proper m ap o f the cou ntry N ever
t h e le ss he com mun i cates som e v aluable i n form a
t io n respecti ng the natural product ions and the
wanderi ng i nhab itants of those d reary regions
H is man ner i s as clumsy and ponderous as that
o f German ph ilosophers gene rall y is and no
where i s th is more apparent than when h e
attem pts to be strik i n g or tries h is powers i n
the pathetic l i ne
I took B ailly s H isto ire
.

and he had lately p ub li shed a n account of i t wh i ch was noti c ed

w i th warm p raise i n the Q t ly R vi w for J anuary 8 7
,

u a r er

T O [MR

817

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

ELL

1 0C
)

de l A st ro n o m ie

out o f the C ollege l ib rary last

t ime I was over the F i rth
H
e
seems
to
[
]
write w ith great eloquence and persp icu i ty ;
but I have read l ittle o f h im
We get a
D u mfr ies C o u rie r here amongst u s
O u r th i rd
number reached us a few days ago I t seem s

it is not
r
id
is
becom
e
sole
E
d
i
tor
M D ia m
the O p i n io n of the readers here that the pape r
has bee n a gai ner by the change T he Ranger
seem s (u nde r favou r ) to be but a s illy k i nd of
person and h is friend M r B righ t i s a very
v ap id g entleman
I t is a p ity that S p o n da s t e s
h i s l abou rs hav e bee n cu rtailed before he h as
com pleted h i s i nvestigations
B u t we m ust
m ake a sh i ft to l ive w i thou t k nowi ng who wrote
I expected to h ave see n
M a ry s D rea m

S amuel C owan s i nv estigation l ast week bu t i t

d id not appear I f yo u have given ove r you r
M athematics wel l and good ; bu t i f you have
wrote M i tchell 3 d F ebruary 8 7
Li ttle M urray

mean i n g thei r common fr i end T homas M urray has been

H
writ i n g i n the C i under the name of S/ m d /
g ave an a c count of a l l the l earned ( J ll idi
from the
C reation of the W or l d to the p resent day ; and had not sheer
modesty p revented h i m h imself woul d have been amon g the
number

o u r er

ov

a s es

a ns

1 04

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

817

not you may throw the followi ng exe rc ises i nto

you r store room i f you l ike
H
ere
fol
lowed
[
m athematical propos ition s ]
A nd now m y beloved M i tchell what more
can I do for thee ? M y sheet i s full and i f
thou speak o fqica th is is dense enough i n al l
conscien ce I do hope and t rust I shal l hear
from thee very soon I k now I hav e bee n to
blame but that i s past and gone T he refore
let us forget and forgi ve and bel ieve me my
dear Rob i n you rs fai thful ly
,

T H O M A S C A R LY L E
X V I I To M r

R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M
.

K I R KCALDY

5 th ju ly

a n se

1817

M Y D E A R RO B I N A fte r wai ti ng v ery im

patiently fo r such a long period I rece ived

w ith great sat isfaction the s hort bu t savou ry
morsel wh i ch thou has t at length bee n pleased
,

I n the l etter to whi c h this is an answer M it c he ll had

written
I have se le c ted the l ar g est sheet of p a p er I ha v e i n
the wor l d ; my p ag e i sufc ient l y dense and my ty p e a
p erfe c t p i d a ll thi s that thine an g er may abate W hat
can I do more
1

BER T

T O [MR

817

M I T CH

RO

EL L

1 05

to despatch m e I t does not by any m eans

quell m y appet i te but you assure m e i t is only

a precu rsor and what can I do b ut be pro

i
t
i
a
t
e
d
I
tu
rned
pale
when
I
not
iced
you
r
p

charge o f pal m ing

T he propos it io n abou t
the harmon ic sectio n was as I sai d before
i ncl uded i n o ne of M atthew S tewart s problems
the sou rce I suppose fro m wh ich Lesl i e
h i msel f obtai ned i t N o doubt i t was stup i d
e nough no t to k now that i t was deducible from
P rop 2 2 i i i o f th e A n a lys i s or still more
d i rectl y from p rop 9 v i E le m e n ts an d
therei n l ies my erro r T h e p roblem co ncern
i ng the m i n i m um was proposed l ast w i nter i n
Lesl ie s class ; an d I k now not when o r where
o r i n wh at man ne r yo u an d Waugh had d is

cussed it T hat to n d th e locus o f the

v ertex o f a t riangl e gi ve n i n spec ies w hose
base i s one o f the S ides o f a gi ve n angle s tand
i n g o n a g ive n straigh t l i ne was also deri ved
fro m o ne o f Lesl i e s
I t seem s to h ave no
af n i ty wi th prop 4 i i i A n a lys is I suppose
i t h a s bee n w rongl y en unciated to y ou S o
th at you s e e th e quanti ty o f pal m i n g has i n th i s
,

LE T TER S

1 06

TH O[MA S

OF

CA RL

YLE

817

case been very i ncon si derabl e T he same day

o n wh i ch I rece ived you r l etter I perused
A lpha s N ewspaper sol utio n E dward I rv i ng
th i nks i t a learned i nvestigat ion I th i nk s o
l ikewise T h e very sam e resul t (fo r I tried i t )
i s obtai ned and by a nearly s im ilar p rocess
from the 3 2 d prop o f N ewton : bu t I do no t
understan d you r i ntegral calcul us
I t woul d
be a more d i f cul t bus i ness to nd the t i m e o f
descent to t he cen tre of the earth
I w ish you
woul d try th is and s end m e you r resul t I am
afrai d I can not do i t
T h ree weeks ago I n ish ed M B ailly s H is
t o ire de l A s t ro n o m ie M o de rn e
H is acquai n t
ance wi th the scie nce seem s to h av e been more
extens iv e th an p rofou nd ; h is s tyle is elegant
perhaps too orid and i nte rspersed w i th
m etaphors wh ich an E ngl ish cri ti c m igh t be
tempted som eti mes to call concei ted I wis h I
were an A st ronome r I s i t not an i nteresti ng
re ectio n to consider that a l ittl e creatu re s uch
as m an though h is eye can s e e th e heaven but
as i t we re for a m ome nt i s abl e to del i neate
th e aspect wh ich i t presented long ages be fo re
.

817

TO

[MR

BER T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

1 07

h e came i nto be i ng and to pred ict th e aspects

wh ich i t w ill p resent when ages sh all hav e
gone by ? T he past th e present and the
futu re are before h i m A ssu redly the human
speci es n ev e r performed a more honou rable

ach ievement
T he boast o f heraldry the
pomp of powe r m us t d isappear l ike those that
del ighted i n them ; but whe n th e han d that
wrote th e Prin c ioia is reduced to a l i ttle bl ack
earth and th e spi ri t that d i ctated i t i s go ne no
o ne k nows wh i ther th e work i tsel f remai ns i n
u ndecay i ng maj esty to al l generatio ns
B ut
D r C hal me rs i t woul d seem is fearful l est
these speculat ions l ead u s away from C h ri s
t ia n it y and h as wri tten a vol um e o f D isc o u rses
to p rov e that th e in s ign i c a n c e of ou r planet i n
the U n ive rse i s no argume nt agai ns t th e t ruth
of rel i g ion O rthodox m en declare of cou rse
that h e has com pletely dis c o m t e d h is O ppo n
e nts I read i t som e t im e ago I t abo unds i n
that fi ery tho rou g h g o in g s tyl e o f wri ti ng fo r
wh i ch the A u th or i s s o rem arkabl e ; n e ve rt h e
l ess h is best argum ent seems to be th at a s i t i s
i n the S c ri ptu res we h ave no bus i ness to th i nk
,

1 08

L E T TER S

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

181

abou t i t at all a n argument wh i ch was well

enou g h known to be a panacea i n cases o f that
natu re before h is volum e saw the l igh t O n e
i s a l i ttle su rp rised to s e e th e D octo r s o
vehem e n t i n h is praise of N ewto n for what
certai nl y was very l audabl e h is rej ecti ng al l
m an ner o f probab il ities and refusi ng to adm i t
any hypothes i s t ill i t was suppo rted by d i rect
an d u n co ntrovertibl e proof W i thout doubt
th i s ans wers exactl y i n th e presen t i nstance
bu t i f car ried to i ts full extent o n th e other s ide
i t wil l lead to al arm i ng resul ts C h ristian i ty
i tsel f is only supported by probab il ities ; very
strong o nes certai nly but s til l o nl y probab il it ies

B u t here we are i nfo rm ed i t is necessary to

s it dow n wi th th e docil ity o f l i ttl e ch ild re n
a n d bel ieve everyth i n g that is tol d us ; wh i ch
i s a very com fortable way o f reason i ng I t is
perhaps not surp ris i ng that th e A utho r shoul d
be dogmati cal ; but i t seem s s tran g e when h i s
o wn s ide o f th e questio n is s o very ev i dent
th at h e shoul d deal s o largel y i n den unci atio ns
agai nst h is adversaries I t is very certai n that
th e u nhappy s cept i c can not bel iev e o ne j ot the
.

TO M R

817

BE R T

EL L

M I T CH

RO

1 09

better thou g h he were brayed i n a m ortar

Y et al most al l th e wri ters o n th e ev idences o f
C h ristian i ty th at I hav e s ee n (except i ng P aley )
h ave t reated h im i n th is m an ner T hese re
e c t io n s occur naturally enough i n perus i ng
th is book (wh ich after al l is no o rd i nary p ro
duction t hough better books have not al ways
passed th rough s ix ed i tions i n s o short a space )
bu t I have not stated them o ften Whe n a
poo r creature s senti ments i n such cases hap
pe n to be con trary to those of h is neighbou rs
the l ess h e says O f them th e better
Th is
same D octo r as you w ill k now wri tes the rst
art i cle i n the late E din eu rgd R e vie w o n the

C auses and C ure o f M e nd ici ty

A fter ex
at
cons
iderable
length
upo
n
the
ev
il
s
a t ia t in
p
g
o f pauperism he proposes as a remedy to
i ncrease th e number o f cl er g ym en T hey who
k now th e ge neral hab its of S cottish m i n isters
w ill easily s e e how sove rei g n a speci c th is is
T he remai nder o f th e R e view is g ood read i ng ;
b ut as y o u will h ave see n i t befo re th is t im e I
w il l not troubl e you fu rthe r o n the matte r I
h ave seen the l ast N umbe r o f th e Q u a rterly
.

1 10

R e vie w

E T TER S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YL E

81 7

I t seems to be getting i n to a very

rotte n frothy vei n M r S outhey is a m os t
u nbl ush i ng character ; and h i s pol i ti cal lu c u b ra
t ions are very notable H e has been sorely
galled by th e C aledo n ian o racle poor man I
know noth i ng about M r D uncan s co ntroversy
except th rough the S co ts m a n ; and they ass ign
h i m the V ictory I receiv ed about a month
ago the Re v W ill iam T homson of O c h ilt re e s
new t ranslatio n of th e Testamen t O f course

I am no j udge o f h is new renderi ngs ; but

th e s tyl e both o f writ i ng and th i nk i ng dis
played in those parts wh ich I h ave looked at
i s d ul l an d sl uggish as th e clay i tsel f H e
b rags O f h av i ng altered the express ions of the
ol d t ransl atio n everybody I suppose w ill
read ily adm i t th is an d be ready to w is h h i m
j oy o f all th e honours that can arise from
such al terations I m ight s a y more o f books
but th is w ill abu ndantly satis fy you for one
cou rse
I hav e heard noth i ng o f J oh nstone yet
T ruly I th i nk never any poor wigh t had
two su ch lazy corresponden ts as I am yoked
.

TO M R

817

B ER T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

11 1

w ithal M uch m i g h t b e sai d o n th i s subj ect

b ut it is n eedl ess to pu n ish yo u before th e ti me
I n four o r ve weeks I hope to be with you an d
you S hal l h ear you r ev il deeds [proclai m ed ]with
e nergy enough A s I may reach A n nandal e
by various routes i t w ill be an obj ect o f great
i mpo rtance to x upo n the best S om etimes
I am fo r proceed i ng th rough P eebl es and th e
wolds o f S el k i rk by Po lm o o die an d E ttrick
Pe n T h i s track is alm ost as th e crow ies
A t other t i m es I t h i nk o f T weedsm u i r an d
M o ffat ; an d at presen t I rvi ng and a M r
P ears (schoolm aste r i n th i s n e i g hbou rhood )
are p ersuad i ng m e to accom pany them by
T hey
S ti rl i ng and th e T rossach s to Glasgow
tel l m e we S hal l s e e Loch K atri ne and cl im b
B e n Lo mo nd an d do man y othe r e xploi ts ;
bu t we have not yet counted the cost and
notwi thstand i ng al l that has bee n sai d abou t
the stu rd y i ndepe nde nt feel i n g s o f a pedestrian
I am i ncl ined to th i nk that i n m y case th ey
are greatl y ove rbalanced by th e mo re v ulgar
.

Of

ce n ces ,

th i s journey there is a l i vel y a c count i n the

1 2 2- 1

34

Re m in t s

LE T TE RS

1 12

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

181

co nsiderat ion of st i ffe ned j o i nts and bl i stered

feet U po n the whol e i t is no t u nl ikel y t hat
I m ust ag ai n pen etrate the moors o f T weeddal e
a d istrict wh ich I n ever c rossed except i n
the most woful pl ight both o f body and m i nd
and wh i ch therefo re I h ate very cord ial ly A t
all events I am to be th ree o r four weeks
bes ide you I wish you woul d co ntrive some
excu rs ion fo r ou r m utual bene t What s a y
you o f a sail to L i verpool ? T he expense
woul d not be great and i t m igh t tend to
d iss ipate that h eadach e wh i ch I am so rry to
nd s til l i n fests you
W e could embark at
D um fries o r A nnan an d we coul d not fail to
n d a s h ip bou nd to some S cott ish po rt when
ever i t shoul d please us to return W e coul d
go to th e I sle of M an o r to W i g town or any
wh ither I f J oh nston e woul d go w i th us we
shoul d be th ree m erry souls wi n d and weath er
perm itti ng
Wri te m e your op i n ion of th is
proj ect i mm ed iately I had other th i ngs to tell
you o f but dayl ight an d paper are both fail ing
m e and th is hal f hour I have been d ri vi n g
my pen as fast as ever J eh u the s o n o f N i msh i
.

817

TO

MR

A
7 ME S
f

7 OH N S T ON E

1 13

d rove h is chariot to be i n t i me fo r th e m ail

and after al l I am afrai d that I am out O ne
thi ng I m ust m ent io n Write soo n ; cal l to
m i nd thy engage ments and to m ake the
m atter de n i te I hereby gi v e you not i ce that
u nl ess I rece ive a lette r from thee w i th i n
fourteen days from t h e date hereo f (allowi ng
th ree days o f grace ) thou shalt be pun ished as
a c ra ck t ryst and a b reaker of prom ise without
benet o f clergy s o loo k to i t T h i n e ol d and
faith ful friend
T H O M A S CA RLY L E
,

XVI I I

T o M r J A M ES
.

T
H
N
S
ON E
J

K I R K CA L D Y

H it c h ill A n 11 a n
,

5t /t S ep te m oer

D E A R J O H N S T O N E I fear you are al read y

fretti n g at m y s ilence ; and as I h av e no s a t is fa c
to ry apolo g y to offe r i t would bu t au g ment you r
d ud g eon to attem pt o ne
T here fo re w i thout
p re face I des i re you to be content and y ou
shal l hear all th i n g s i n the i r o rde r To be g i n
MY

who docs not ful fl h is en g a g ement

H it h ill a substant i al
farmhouse bu i lt by C a l yle s
father stands about m i dway between Ruth w ell and A m an
J ohnstone was tutor to r C hu ch s sons the c
1

On e

V OL

LE TTE RS

1 14

TH O[MA S

0F

CA R

L YLE

181

at the begi n ni ng the day after m y parti ng w ith

you and M itchell was rai ny and I spent i t at
home i n a state of torp id and u nprotable d ream
i ng B ut next m orn i ng being d ry I resolved
to com me nce m y j ou rney S andy accompan ied
me to M offat ; and duri ng m y ride m y m i nd
was occup ied w ith al l the cheeri ng re ectio ns
wh i ch a passage th rough T weedsm u i r the re
com men cem ent of P aedagogy and the j ol ti ng o f
a strong cart horse naturall y i nspi red A bou t
t wo o cl ock I was o n the s umm i t o f E ri c
stane I looked down th rough the long deep
val e o f the A r man rem embered m y friends
upo n the d i m ho rizo n and hal f u tteri ng the wi sh
that rose wi th i n m e fo r the i r wel fare I turned
m e rou n d an d pu rsued the teno r of m y way
I n a short t ime I overtook two fellow travell ers
O ne of th em was a peasan t of those parts the
othe r a stou t square m ade [man ] of thi rty i n
sailor s cl oth es w ithout shoes o r sh i rt wi th a
cou nte nance th at seem ed tanned by wi nd and
weather and express ive at once of e nerg y and
harmlessness U pon i nvestigation I fou nd that
th is u nl ucky perso n was o ne T homas C u v a llo
,

T O [MR

817

ES

7 A [M

7 OH N S T ON E

1 1

a nat ive of C onstanti nopl e whose father had

gone fro m the neighbourhood of C ori nth that
he had served two years o n board the A ch illes
E ngl ish sh ip o f war was d ischarged i n 1 8 1 4
had afterwards been twice at I nd ia whence
he had returned las t spri ng and that t ravell i ng
from o ne harbou r to another i n the vai n hope
o f nd i ng a vessel to carry h i m to h i s own
cou ntry he had expended al l h is money and
was now as a last resort m ak ing h i s way to
Le ith to try to procu re e i ther a passage to th e
C onti nent o r wo rk to keep h im from starv i ng
t ill ti mes shoul d mend T h is Thomas C u v a llo
cast thus forlo rnl y upo n the wolds o f T weeddale
seemed to V iew h is cond itio n wi th an in diffe r
ence that Zeno h imsel f m i g h t h ave e nv ied T he
presen t o f a p iece o f b read and C heese wh ich
M rs J oh nsto n had stowed i nto m y pocket at
M offat secu red m e h i s favo ur and rendered
h i m v ery comm un i cati ve thou g h h is stock o f
E n g l ish vocables was far from extens i ve A fter
repeati n g m e the G reek al phabet he g ave m e
th e n ames o f seve ral obj ects i n Romaic mos t
o f wh i ch bore a strik in g resem blance to the
,

1 16

E T TE RS

TII O[MA S

OF

CA RL

YL E

18 1

H el len i c ; and when I i nqu i red the s ign i catio n

o f Zo o m o u sa s a gafo he repl ied wi th a gri n o f

i ntell igence
M y l i fe I l ove thee
T hen h e
proceeded to u nfold to m e th e v arious grie v
a u ces and m olestat ions to wh ich he
bei
ng
a
(
Dj
o u r was exposed i n Is t a m b o l i nterspers i ng
)
s om e accou n t o f h is adven tures i n th e L evant
together w i th notices of M ullahs J e m a m s and
s pi nn i ng D erv ishes
I nsens ibly he d igressed
i nto th e subj ect o f magi c and d iv i nat ion and
then s e t about rev eal i ng to m e h is ideas touch
i ng m i racles an d spect res H e said there were
te n ki nds o f spectres U nder th e head o f m i r
acles h e told m e of ce rtai n pictu res i n S t
S oph i a s C hu rch wh ich no efforts of the Turks
can efface thou g h they scrape and wh itewash
n ever s o m anfully I n th e sam e ch urch it
seem s th ere is a pulp i t i nto wh i ch these u n
happy M ussulmans can n ever gai n adm i ttance
axes and crows avail them noth i n g but
every E aster eve there appears i n i t the gure
o f a man read ing i n a book wh ich when h e
the M oham medan em pi re
S hal l h ave n ish ed
shall pass away fo r ever H e tol d m e l ikewise
,

'

[MR

TO

817

7 A [ME S 7 OH N S T ON E

1 17

o f a well i n C o nstant i nopl e wh i ch co ntai ns a

sh whose h istory is very rem arkable I t hap
pened to be fryi ng i n a pan i n the palace at the
t i me th e Turks were about to e nter the ci ty ;
when the i ncredul ous an d phlegmati c sovereign
decl ared to the General who came to a s k h is
adv ice that he woul d as soo n b el ieve that th is
sh would j ump from h is fry i ng pan an d l ive
as that the T u rks were w ith i n m any leagues
of h i m VVh e re u p o n th e sh spran g out wi th
great ag il i ty and at th is hour h e said i s l ivi ng

i n i ts well on e s ide roasted and th e other raw

and i n tends to do s o t ill G reece shal l be
nally del i vered from bo ndage H e n ever s a w
i t but h is mother d id O n our arri val at the
B ield I presented th is u nfortu nate A rgi ve w i th
a d raugh t o f po rte r ; an d l eav i ng h i m wi th a
sh ill i ng hal f a foot O f tobacco and my bes t
wish es to exert h is begging powe rs i n th e
nei g hbou rhood I ad vanced to B roughto n i n
th e m idst o f rai n an d reached i t at n i g h tfall
I n about hal f an hou r there came a re t u rn
c /z a is e i nto wh ich I m ounted : and afte r bein g
dosed by th e quave rin g s o f a fool ish G rocer who
.

L E T TE RS

1 18

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R L

YL E

18 17

frequentl y attempted to s ing and som etim es

amused by th e p roofs wh i ch our d ri ve r (a ki nd
o f C udd i e H e a drigg fell ow ) produced o f the
i nsan i ty of K en nedy and h is fai r w i fe both o f
renowned m emory i n you r country I cam e to
N o b le h o u se at te n o clock N ex t day at noo n
I was i n E d i nbu rgh m et wi th I rv i ng at Leith
i n the eve n i ng an d nally w i thou t l oss or de t ri
m en t I reached my habi tatio n i n ti m e for tea
T h us you s e e afte r al l th e pai ns and plea
su res an d tri umph s and dis c o m t u re s and peri ls
by l and an d water wh i ch a m onth spent i n
j o u rney i ng upo n the face o f th is fai r earth has
caused m e to expe ri ence I n d mysel f o nce
m ore seated i n my l i ttl e C hamber i n th is anc ient
bu rgh o f K i rkcaldy al l my l abou rs (l i ke those
o f m any w ise r persons ) hav i ng b rough t m e onl y
to th e place from whence I started N ow th at
I h ave sh ake n hands w i th m y hones t neigh
bours an d resumed my occupations I nd that
the rem embrance o f the wild and wo nd rous
features o f the H ighlands assorts but awkwardl y
w ith the v ul g ar feel i ngs to wh ich the d uties O f
a school gi ve rise N evertheless I am peaceful
,

181

TO M R

f
7A [ME S yOH A S T ON E

1 19

and contented and my days pass o n pleas

a n tl
enough
W
hat
I
deplore
i
s
that
laz
i
ness
y
and d iss ipatio n o f m i nd to wh i ch I am still s u b
A
t
presen
t
I
am
qu
iet
i
ng
my
co
nsc
ience
ect
j
w ith th e though t that I shal l study very d il igentl y
th is wi nter H eaven grant i t be s o ! fo r w i th
ou t i ncreasi ng i n knowledge wh at prots i t to
l ive ? Y et th e com me ncem en t has been in a u s
i
T
h
ree
weeks
ago
I
began
to
read
c io u s
p
W a lla c e s F lu xio n s i n th e E n cyc lop ce dia and
had proceeded a l ittl e way when the Q u a rte rly
R e vie w som e p robl ems i n a v ery s illy L ite ra ry
a n d S t a t ist ica l M a ga z in e o f wh ich the S chool
m asters are supporters M adam de S ta el s Ge r
hav e s uspended my operat ions
m a ny etc etc
these ten days A fte r al l I am afraid that th is
wi nter wil l pass as others h av e done before i t
unmarked by im p roveme nt ; and what i s to
h i nder th e nex t and i ts follo wers t il l the end o f
the short seaso n allotted me to do so l ikewise ?
P iti ful d esti ny m y friend ye t how to be
avo ided ? Lately I was re newi n g m y ol d pro
j c e t o f g o in g to the F rench U n i versi ty I have
attered m ysel f wi th th e thou g h t that the coll i
,

'

LE TT

1 20

E RS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R L

YL E

181

s io n w i th s o m any foreign m i nds al l to il i ng with

m igh t and mai n after the sam e obj ect would
e xcite i n m e a perm anent e nthus ias m su f cien t
to carry m e as far as m y powers woul d go
strai g h t forward and not i n the z i g zag d i r c e
t ion s now yi ng now creepi ng wh i ch I at
p resent pu rs ue O n ce I had al most dete rm i ned
nex t ti m e I went to E d i nbu rgh to i nqui re
whether i t would be poss ible to put th is s c h e m e
i n execut ion
B ut I suppose i t w il l shortl y
diss ipate l i ke other schemes of a s im ilar natu re
and leav e m e to fo rm resol ut ions an d lamen t
the i r fail u re as be fo re Y ou w ill th i nk m e very
weak an d s i ll y : I th i nk s o m ysel f (Ein c illa c
la c rym a e ) and know not whethe r I S hal l ever
m end
I hope you o rder th es e m atte rs better
at H it c h ill
I tol d you I had seen the Q u a rte rly R e vie w
Y ou woul d noti ce i ts contents i n the n ewspaper
I t is a lo ng t i me s ince I ceased to be o ne of its
adm i rers T he writers possess no in c o n s ide r
abl e share of dogm at ism ; an d thei r l earn i ng
wh ich they are to an u npl easan t degree fond
o f d ispl ay i ng is o f that m i nute scholastic nature
,

T O [ MR

817

yA IME S 7 OH N S T ON E

121

wh ich is emi nently d isti nguished from know

l ed g e
M oreo ver the i r zeal for th e S ocial
seems to eat them up and the i r horror
O rder
o f revol ut ion i s V iolent as a hydrop hob ia T hese
qual i ties are prom i nent i n th e last n umber and
acco rd i ngly i t contai ns m uch d i sgusti ng m atter ;
but I l i ke i t better (a s a whol e ) than som e o f
i ts p redecessors T he re is i n i t a d istant and
respectful bu t s evere c ri tic ism o n D ugal d
S tewart s w riti ngs wh ich com es m u ch nearer
m y v i ews o f h i s characte r than any of th e
panegyrics wh ich the E d i nbu rgh R ev iewers
hav e s o l av i shl y bestowed u po n h im
T he
other n igh t I s a t up till fou r O clock read ing
M atth ew Lewis M o n /e I t i s th e most stupid
and v illai nous novel that I have read fo r a
great wh il e C ons iderable po rtions o f i t are
g rossl y i ndecent not to s a y b rutis h : o ne does
n o t care a st raw about o ne o f th e characters

a n cl thou g h
l i ttle M at has l e g ions o f g hosts
an d dev ils at h i s bi dd i ng o ne v iews thei r
m ov ements wi th pro found i nd i ffere nce I h ave
see n the rs t n u mbe r o f C o n st a lI le s M a ga z in e
it seem s scarcel y equal to l i la c/c w o o d s the
.

122

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

817

las t n umbe r o f wh ich h as appeared B a dve r

t ises a new o n e with a sl igh t variatio n i n th e
t itl e T h ere is also another period ical publ ica
t io n publ ished o nce a fortn ight (I forget its
nam e ) begun u nder th e auspi ces o f P eter H ill
I perused only o ne art icl e and can g i ve no
accou n t o f i t I can not p retend to s a y what
th is i n ux of m agaz i nes i nd icates o r portends
Tel l M r C hu rch th at the h arvest began h ere
about a we ek afte r my arrival B arl ey seem s
to be the pri ncipal crop i n th is neighbou rhood
and al l hands are now bus ily engaged i n cutti ng
i t I t has been sadly tossed and broken by
the wi nd and rai n b ut as th e l ast fortn igh t has
been excelle nt weather the peopl e h ave great
hopes of i t yet What the pri ce o f th e grai n i s
I k now not n ew oatm eal was 1 9 %d the peck
but two days o f soft weather h ave raised i t a
pen ny M ake my bes t compl iments to M rs
C hurch a n d M iss H arper
I hope yo u are
happy w i th them
I long to hear what yo u are
all do i ng Write m e I p ray you a full and par
t ic u la r accou n t o f al l you r transacti ons
P ardon
m y delays and l et m e tel l you even no w I
.

T O [MR

817

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH E LL

1 23

h ave been obl iged to write th is letter most

doggedly and as i t were by mai n force s o
great was m y desi re to keep you i n peace C an
?
you tel l m e what that k nave M i tchel l is do i ng
H e shoul d h av e sent m e a letter two weeks
ago
R emember m e at B o gs ide
D o write
very soon and bel ieve m e dear J oh nstone
yours fa it h Hy
T H O M A S C A R LY LE
,

PS
.

I am j ust go i ng dow n to I rv i ng s to

get the newspape r and co ncert measures fo r an

exped ition to E di nbu rgh wh ich we are m edi
tati ng to accom pl ish to morrow eve n i ng I
shall put th is i nto th e o f ce by th e way so
good n i g h t once m ore
,

X I X To M r
.

M IT C IIE LL

K R K CA L DY
I

It

R t h w ll M
u

9 t/c N o ve m be r

a n se

817

i s a g reat wh ile m y dear M itchel l s i nce

I w rote y ou a lette r that d id not requi re an
apolo g y fo r its late ness Y o u too are charg e
abl e wi th s i m ilar p racti ces ; and could I wi th any
conscience I would rate you ve r y seve rely I t
,

1 24

E T TE RS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YLE

1817

i s ce rtai nly a deplo rable way of proceedi ng I f

i t be true i n you r case as i t i s i n m i ne that the
l etters wh ich pass between us occas io n som e o f
t he happiest feel ings that d ive rs i fy th is langu i d
scene it is p ity that th ey are o n both s i des s o
spari ngl y suppl ied I am no strange r to th e
d reary sense of vacu ity that occup ies th e soul
o f h i m w ho s its down to ll a fai r u nblotted
sheet o f paper whe n t material s a re want i ng
B u t we are too fastid ious i n ou r choi ce o f
subj ects and above al l we ough t to exert
oursel ves I t can not be expected that lead i ng
th is u nvaried l i fe wh i ch P rov idence has allotted
us we shoul d hav e any won derful t id ings to com
m u n ic a t e
We hav e noth i ng to s a y about th e
m us ical g lasses o r bo n to n nor can we p retend
to speak o f mov i ng i nci dents by ood and el d
o f C an n ibals that each other eat the A nth ro
o r augh t of that nature
o
h
a
i
Y et are we
p p g
not destitute o f topi cs T h e feel i ngs and a d
ventu res o f each o f u s (though o f no m ome nt
to nearly all the wo rl d bes ide ) m ay be i nterest
i ng to th e other and by m utually com m u n i cati ng
the progress o f ou r stud i es an d the i deas (i f
.

181

[MR

TO

RO

BER T

[MI

T CH

ELL

125

any ) that at t im es penetrate these be n ighted

m i nds of ou rs w e m ay be e ncouraged to pro
rejo i ci ng togeth er w i thout
c e e d o n our way ;
attery or j ealousy o r any s uch th i ng I des i re
you to ponder upon th i s subj ect w i th due atten
t ion Le t us both wri te ofte ner no matter
how dull the l etters be Wh en m en can not
b e social they are co ntent to b e gregarious
and though i t be i n a state of s ilen ce and
torpor experience som e grat i cation from mere
j u xtapos itio n ; s o w i th regard to letters i t m ay
safel y be a f rm ed th at the shortest and m eagres t
i s preferable to none at all I am wri ti n g to
you at present from a conv i ctio n of the truth
an d util i ty o f th is propos it io n S i nce m y de
parture from you r cou ntry noth ing at all worth
rel ati ng has happened to m e I h ave g o ne the
roun d O f m y duties wi th al l the regulari ty an d
M y m i nd has on
s a ngfro id o f a m il l horse
the whol e been plac id som eti mes al most sta g
nant A nd i f i t be t rue as F la c c u s h ath i t
that
,

N il
S

dm ira ri

o l aq u e

p ro p e res

uae

p o ss it

e st

fac ere

u na
et

ser vare b eat u m

1 26

E T TER S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R L

YL E

817

I am i n a fai r way o f obtai n ing an d p reserv ing

a cons iderabl e share o f fel i c i ty B ut I am m uch
i ncl i ned to doub t F la c c u s T h e h isto ry o f m y
stud ies exh ib i ts th e same stupid p icture O f im
potent resol utio ns and u navail i ng regrets as
hereto fore I m ay lay as ide my F ren ch p roj ect
wh en I pl ease W hat as you say shoul d take
I f th ey could pl uck from my
m e to Pari s ?
b rai n th is rooted i ndol ence i t m igh t be wo rth
th i nk i ng of S oo n after m y arrival I fell to
2
Wallace s F lu c io u s w ith m igh t and m ai n I
woul d s tudy I though t wi th great veh em ence
every n igh t and th e two hou rs at noo n wh ich
I have to d ispose of I woul d devote to th e
read i ng o f h istory and other l ighter m atters
B ut al as ! two hou rs I fou nd to b e i nsu f cient
by degrees poor Wallace was e ncroached
upo n and is now all but nally d iscarded
.

hat wi l d
g oose scheme i th is of yours of g oin g to
F ran c e
you not know that th e Po l yte c hni c S choo l is
D
knocked on the head T h rest are not worth the nam in g
I say Ladd i e D inwood i e o th e G d h lm c om p ose you rse l f
F rom l etter of M itche l l 4 th O ctober
to your p otatoes
1

W
?

a r en

817
2

\Va lla

was Professor of

ce

of E d i nburg h

athemati c s i n the

nivers i ty

1817

MR

To

BE R T

RO

M I T CH

ELL

127

H is i ntro duction i t m ust be co nfessed is

ponde rous an d repul s i ve
H is horro r o f the
b i nom ial theorem leads h i m i nto strange bye
paths B ut h e demo nst rates w ith great v i g ou r
T h e worst o f i t is we are l ed to h i s concl us io n
as i t were th rough a n arro w lane o ften by i ts
w i ndi ngs sh utti ng from ou r v iew th e obj ect o f
our search and n ever afford i ng us a gl im pse
of the surrou nd i n g cou ntry I w is h I h ad i t
i n my head B ut unl ess I qu i t my h istori cal
pu rsu its i t m ay be doubted whether th is w ill
ever happen
I have read th rou g h th at clear
an d cand id but col d h earted narrat ion of D av id
H ume and now seven o fT o b y S m o lle t t s ei g h t
chaoti c vol um es are before m e T o s a y noth i ng
o fG ib b o n (o f whom I have only read a vol ume
)
no r o f the Watson s the R ussel ls the V ol tai res
etc etc k now n to m e o nly by nam e A l as !
thou seest h ow I am beset I t would be o f
l i ttle avai l to cri t icise B aco n s E ssa ys I t i s
e nou g h to s a y that S tewart s opi n io n o f th em
i s h ighe r than I can attai n Fo r s tyl e they
are ri ch an d v enerabl e fo r th i nk ing i nco rrect
and fan ci ful S ome tim e a g o I bough t m e a
,

1 28

E T TE R S

OF

TH OI MA S

CA R L

YL E

181

copy o f La Ro c h e fo u c a u lt I t h as been said

that the bas is o f h is sys tem is th e suppos i tion
o f sel f love bei ng the motive o f all our act ions
I t rather seem s as i f h e had lai d down no
system at all R egard i ng m an as a wretched
m isch ievous th i n g l ittle better than a k i nd of
verm i n h e represen ts h im as the sport of h is
passions above all o f van ity and exposes the
secret sp ri n g s o f h is co nduct al wa y s with som e
wi t an d (bati ng the usual sacri ces o f accuracy
to s martness ) i n gene ral w ith great truth and
sa g ac i ty
I perused you r theorem s w ith som e atte n
t ion T h ey are wel l worthy of a place i n th e
Co u r ie r though not for the purpose you me n
t io n M r J oh nston if I m istake not is a s mall
gentle man whom i t woul d be no honour to
demol ish I hav e scarcel y do ne a problem s i nce

I saw you T he re is o ne
to nd the l ocu s
o f th e v ertex o f a triangle whose base is given
the o ne angl e at the base b ei ng doubl e o f the
oth er
wh ich I was try i n g som e time ago
Y ou wil l eas il y s e e that the locus is a hyperbola
T he sol utio n o f problems I begi n to th i nk
.

TO

817

MR

B ER T

[M
I T CH E L L

RO

1 29

depends very m uch upo n a certai n sle igh t of

han d that can be acqu i re d wi thout g reat dif
culty by frequent practi ce I am not s o s ure as
I used to be that i t is the best way of employ
i ng o nesel f W ithou t do ub t it co ncent rates ou r
M ath ematical i deas and exercises th e head ;
bu t l ittl e k nowledge is gai ned by the process
I f I am wrong put m e righ t whe n you se nd
m e a letter
I t i s long s i nce I was at E di nb urgh and
whe n I was there noth i n g of i mportance was a
doi ng I h eard A l iso n preach
H is elocutio n
i s clear h is style elegant h i s ideas dist i nct
rath er than pro fou nd S om e perso n contrast
i ng h i m and C hal mers observed that the P re
be ndary o f S arum i s l ike a gl ass o f spr u ce
beer pu re refresh i ng an d u nsubstantial the
m i n iste r o f th e T ro n K i rk l ike a draugh t o f
J oh n n ie D o w ie s al e muddy th ick an d spi ri t
sti rri n g
,

A rch i bald Al i son alors c el ebre as a p rea c her

for the ele g ance of h i s sty l e and as a wr i ter of an E ssay on
wh ich was thou g ht to deserve a cons pi cuous p l a c e
T aste
i n every well chosen l i bra y H was a ma ked g ure i n the
so c iety of E d i nburg h
1

T h e Re v

VO L

E RS

LE TT

1 30

0F

TITO/MA S

CA R

L YLE

181

I vo ry the cel eb rated anal y s t has qu i tted h is

s ituation at the C ollege of (I fo rget i ts nam e )
Wallace has succeeded h i m an d has l eft h is
own place to h is b rother
T hey were say
i n g that I vory had i t i n h is m i n d to com e to
E d i nb u rgh an d become a T each er o f M ath e
m aties Lesl ie has publ ished an A rith met ic
s im ila r I s uppos e to that treatise contai ned i n
the suppleme nt o f th e E n cyc lop edia
H e i s to
h ave a th i rd C lass th is w i nter
P lay fai r I
bel iev e i s returned and is to teach h is class
h imsel f
S om e ti me s i nce al l the worl d was
asto n ished at the 2 n d number of B la cb w oo d s
M
a a z in e
form
erly
th
e
E
di
n bu r k
T
he
g
g )
(
greate r part o f i t i s full o f gal l : bu t the m ost

ve nom ous articl e is the T ransl atio n o f a C hal

dee M anuscript sai d to be foun d i n the L ib rary
of Paris I t is wri tten i n the ph rase o f the S crip
tures an d [gives]an al legori cal accou nt o f the
o rigi n and e nd of the late E din bu rg/i M a ga z in e
g reatly to the d i spara g em en t o f C o nstabl e
Professor I vory born 7 6 5 l ater S i J ames I vory g ave
u p i n 8 9 the cha i r of M athemat i c s a t the R oya l M i l itary
H
C o ll e g e at S andh urst wh ich he h ad hel d for fteen years
su c ceeded Les li e i n the chai r of M athemati c s i n E dinburg h
1

T O [MR

817

BE R T

RO

M I T CH

EL L

31

and th e E d i to rs M ost of the A u thors o f E d i n

burgh are characterised w i th great acri mony
u nder th e l ikeness of bi rds and beasts and
creep i ng th i ngs B l ackwood is l ike to b e b e
leaguered w ith prosecutions fo r it two are
al ready raised agai nst h i m R epl ies i n th e

shape o f explanatio ns
l ette rs to D rs M C rie
and Th omso n h av e bee n put forth more are
prom ised an d doubtl ess rej o i nders are i n a
state of preparatio n Whateve r m ay become

of B lackwood o r h i s antago n ists th e read

i ng o r rathe r th e tal ki ng publ i c is greatly

beholden to the A utho r H e has kept i ts j aws
m ov i ng these fou r weeks an d th e spo rt is not
n ished yet
A s I h ave noth i ng mo re to s a y I bel ieve i t
w ill be as wel l to co ncl ude here by des i ri ng thee
to commend m e to al l my friends i n thy n eigh
b o u rh o o d and to wri te i m med iatel y i f thou
hast any l ove for T h i ne old and trus ty fri end
.

T H O M A S CA R LY LE

hi s C haldee M anuscr i p t w ma i nly the work of

he w ass i sted by W ilson
E ttri c k S he p herd
H o gg the
and Lockhart It i s re p rinted in the co l l ected ed i tion of Pro
1

a s

a s

1 32

E TTE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

X X T o

CA RL

YLE

M r J A M E S J O H N STO N E
.

K I R KCA LDY

2o

1817

t/c N o ve m be r 1 8 1 7

O thou T u rk i n grai n D i d not I send

thee long ago a l etter o f th ree dense pages ?
H ave not I any afternoon these th ree m onths
t urn ed my eye to the mantelp iece upo n
my return fro m s chool to see i f peradventure
the postman had b rought m e no wo rd fro m
A nd d i d h e eve r b ri ng m e any ?
H it c h ill ?
H av e not I but what availeth i t to tal k ?
I n sob ri ety I am dread fully e nraged
Write
m e a l etter I s a y w ithou t further parley o r I
w il l roar (as B ottom saith ) s o that i t s hal l do
any m an s heart good to hear m e I t is vai n
to tell m e that you hav e no s ubj ect S end m e
th e meditatio ns of you r ow n heart send m e a
register o f you r domesti c occurrences in sho rt
anyth i ng a n accou nt o f th e prices o f grai n
and bl ac k cattl e rather than noth i ng at al l
,

i l son s works with notes by his son i l aw Professor

F err i er
T h notoriety it had is due more to the c hara c ter of
the p ersons referred to in it a n d the s c anda l o c casioned by its
ill mannered sat i re than to any g enu i ne wit or humour

fe s s o r W
.

18 1

MR

To

7 A M E S 7 OH N S T OIVE

1 33

M y h istory s i nce I wrote last to you contai ns

no particular worth relat ing : I con ti nue to
follow m y vocat ion wi th a peac eful a nd qu iet
heart an d m igh t l i ve u nde r my v i n e and g
t ree i n case I had o ne w i th non e to m ak e m e
afrai d I w i ll not detai n you long wi th m y
stud ies
I h av e been read ing l i ttl e e xcept
C oxe s travels i n S wi tzerlan d P oland R uss ia
etc H ume s h istory together w ith part o f
S mollett G i bbo n etc C o xe is an i ntell igen t
m an and com mu n i cates i n a ve ry popular
way co ns iderabl e i nform at io n co ncern i n g th e
co untries th ro ugh wh ich h e passed H um e you
know to be d ist i nct and i mpart ial : bu t he has
l ess sympathy th an m i g h t be expected w ith th e
he ro i c patriots the H a m p de n s a nd the S i d
n eys that gl ori fy th e pages o f E n g l ish h istory
I fear S mol lett i s g oi n g to b e a con fused
creature I hav e read bu t a vol um e o f G i bbo n
and I d o no t l i ke h i m : h is style i s flowery ;
h is sarcasm s w icked ; h i s notes O pp ress ive
o ften beastl y T hey that cult ivate l i te rary
sm al l tal k h ave been g reatl y attracted fo r som e
time by th e l ate n umbe r o f B la c /cw o o d s (fo r
,

1 34

E T TER S

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

1817

m erly th e E din bu i g/c) M a ga z in e I t contai n s

many sl anderous i nsi nuat ions agai nst th e pub
lis h e r s ri val s parti cularly a pape r en titl ed

T ranslatio n of a C hal dee M anuscript

co n
cern i ng the autho r and date o f wh ich i t is
g ravely asserted th e cel eb rated S yl vester de
S acy is wri ti n g a d issertat ion T h e piece i s
d iv i ded i nto chapters an d verses an d wri tte n
i n th e S cripture l anguage I t rel ates i n an
emblem ati cal m an ne r th e rise progress decl i ne
and fal l o f th e l ate E din bu rglc M a ga z in e
C o nstabl e and th e E d ito r as well as most of
th e E d i nbu rgh A uth ors are b i tterly lampooned
u nder th e s i m il itudes o f magicians e n ch anters
spi ri ts b i rds an d fou r footed beasts
The
wri ter d ispl ays som e talent
b ut h i s m al ice
and profan i ty are as co nsp icuous as h is w i t
T h ree prosecutions h ave bee n raised agai ns t
B lackwood o n accoun t O f it an d the press
is groan i ng w i th an i madversions an d re
pl i es It i s cu r ious to O bserve the i mportan ce
wh i ch th e wri ti ngs of Walte r S cott have
con ferred o n everyth i ng pertai n i n g to th e
B orde r T hese manu facturers deal largely i n
.

To

8 17

MR

1A

M E S 7 0H N S T ON E

1 35

that article N ot a beldame i n the M e rs e can

plant her cabbages
no r a t i nker solder h is
kettle but i t mus t be forthwith comm u n icated
to the publ ic i n B la ck wo o d s o r the S co ts M a ga
A s i f th e P ubl i c h ad any th i ng to do with
z in e
the matte r I m arvel that t hey hav e not som e
co rresponden t i n the W est M arches to t rans m it
them i ntel l igen ce about th e S poo n m en o f
H ightae a nd the v is ions o f M adam P eel

T h e dead l ights ga u n la n t in by
woul d b e a
rare mo rsel fo r them
Li ttl e occu rs i n th is neighbourhood to d is
turb ou r t ranqui l l ity and still less that you
woul d care fo r hearing
I atte nded th e e x
am i natio n o f I rvi ng s A cadem y l atel y H e
acqu i tted h imsel f d exte rousl y and seem ed to
gi ve g eneral satisfacti o n
H i s ass istant is go ne
to E d i nb urgh and h e n o w m an ag es th e school
h i msel f more com fo rtabl y I h ear than fo r
me rl y A mon th a g o th at sam e A llen whom
l

he M erse or M ar c h one of the d i v i sions of ll w i k

sh ire extend n g from the Lammermoor H i lls to the T weed
was the headquarters of the tinkers and s p oon
I l igh t
makers i D um fr i essh i re
of E cclefechan
M ad m l l
had a dream i n wh ich she saw the death l ig hts g oin g fumi n g by
1

'

cr

ae

ee

1 36

E T TE R S

TH O[MA S

OF

CA RL

YL E

18 1

I once mentioned before gave us a concl ud i ng

l ectu re o n the appl ications of S p u rz h e im s theory
o f C ran ioscopy I t was g reatly past compre
H e seemed to hav e take n th e y
h e n s io n
wheels fro m h is brai n and sai d to it b rai n be
at thy speed produce m e stuff no m atte r o f
what colou r S hape o r textu re : and trul y i t
was a franti c i ncoherent story as heart coul d
w ish
I t appears to h ave knocked th e bottom
out of S p u rz h e im s doctri ne i n th ese parts
N ext c am e s und ry players an d oth er m igra
tory an i m a l s o f th at sort L ast week we had
a reciti ng m an M r H am ilto n from G lasgow
P erhaps M iss H arpe r m ay have see n h im
H e u nderstands h is t rade wel l ; but he is a
dri nk ing dog T he other day there arrived
from E d i nbu rgh a large shoal o f p reachers
D ixon N i chol B ullock etc they preached al l
alo ng th is coast of o urs
I h eard D ixo n o u
D eath som ewh at i n K i ng C am byses ve i n
H e i s a witc racker by p rofess ion otherw ise a
good fellow enough B etween ou rsel ves ou r
o wn m i n iste r here i s the ve ri est d rug that eve r
hapl ess aud ience y awned u nder H e has in
,

817

TO

MR

I
A
y IE S
I

7 OH N S

T ON E

I 37

gi ne too but as m uch lazi ness along wi th i t

I protest i f
a s m ight suf ce for a P resbytery
he becom e no better I s hal l be compell ed to
abando n h im i n a great m easure Y es terda y
al l th e world was i n m ourn i ng and hearing
sermo ns for th e P ri ncess C harlotte I was
m uch struck w i th th e fate of that exal ted per
H e r age was w i th i n a m onth of m y own
so n
A few days a g o s h e w a s
1

As
An

fu ll o f s p i ri t as th e m o n t h o f M a y ;
d g or g eo us as th e su n at M i d su m m er

and now T rul y pal e D eath overtu rns with im

partial foot the h ut O f the poo r m an an d th e
palace o f th e K i ng
I t i s past m i dn i g h t S O I shal l h av e do ne
G reet M rs C hu rch and M iss H arper i n m y
name M r C hu rch w ill pre fe r an accou n t of
the harvest to com pl i m ents T herefore l et h im
k now that th e s tate o f A g ri cul tu ral affai rs i n
th i s d ist rict i s v e ry pi ti ful : th e c rops are
backward to a de g ree that is qu i te u n a c c o u n t

abl e an d not p a rall eled b y any seaso n wi th i n

,

cotch for g en i us or m i nd i n g enera l

I 3S

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA RL YL E

1818

th e m emory of m an P art o f the oats i s u ncut

and the whol e co untry hereabou t and westward
as I learn is cov ered wi th shocks T he weather
is m oi st too s o that al togethe r th e H usband
m an has an af ict i ng prospect
To mo rrow I go to E di nburgh wi th I rv i ng
I f we get safe ov er you wil l nd i t n oted i n
th e v acan t space M eanti m e I l l to my truckle
bed I h ave noth i ng more to tel l you but that
I am as heretofore yours t ruly
.

T H O M A S CA R LY LE

T M r R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M

XXL

K I R K CAL D Y

6t h F e bru a ry

a n se

818

A fter an ard uous s t ruggl e w i th s u nd ry h is

t o ria n s o f great and s mal l renow n I s it dow n
to answe r th e m uch val ued ep istle o f my frie nd
D oub tl ess yo u are d isposed to grumbl e that I
h av e bee n so long i n doi ng s o ; bu t I hav e an
argu ment i n store fo r you To s tate the pro
pos i tio n lo g i cally th is lette r I co nce ive m ust
e i ther am use you o r not I f i t am u se you
th en certai nly you can not be s o u n reasonable
,

818

To

MR

B ER T

M I T CH

RO

ELL

1 39

as to cav i l at a l ittl e harmless delay : an d i f i t

do not you wi l l rather rej o i ce that your pu n ish
me nt has not bee n sooner in iCt e d H av i ng
thus brie y xe d you between th e horns o f my
dilem m a from w h ich I atter mysel f no sk ill
w il l s uf c e to extri cate you I p roceed wi th a
peaceful and fearless m i nd
M y way o f l i fe is st ill afte r th e form er
fash io n I co nti n ue to teach (that I m ay s u b
s is t thereby ) with abou t as m uch satis fact io n
as I S houl d beat hem p i f s uch were m y voca
t io n
E xcepti ng o ne or two i nd iv i duals I
hav e l i ttl e soc iety that I val ue very h ighl y bu t
books are a ready and effectual resource M ay
blessi n g s be upo n the head o f C ad m us o r the
P h oen icians o r wh oeve r i nv ented books ! I
may no t detai n you w i th th e p raises O f an art
that carries th e vo i ce o f m an to th e extrem i ties
o f th e earth an d to th e l atest g e nerations but
i t i s lawful fo r the sol itary wigh t to express th e
l ove h e feel s fo r those com pan ions s o sted fast
and un p resum i n g that g o o r come wi thou t
rel uctan ce and th at whe n h is fellow an i mals
are p roud o r stu p id o r p eev i sh are e ve r ready
.

L E TT

1 40

E RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

818

to cheer th e l anguo r o f h is soul and gild th e

barren ness of l i fe w i th the t reasu res o f bygo ne
t im es N ow and th en I c ross the F ri th : b u t
these exped i tions are n ot atte nded w i th m uch
enj oyme nt T h e t i m e h as been wh en I woul d
h av e stood a t iptoe at th e n ame of E d i nbu rgh
b ut al l that i s al tered now T h e m e n w i th
whom I m eet are mostly preachers o r S tudents
i n di v i n ity
T hese persons des i re not to
u nderstand N ewto n s ph i losophy b ut to obtai n
a well plen ished m anse T hei r i deas wh i ch
are uttered wi th m uch vai n j angl i n g an d
general ly couched i n a recurri ng s eries o f quips
an d most S lende r pu ns are n early co n ned to
th e ch u rch o r rather k i rk sess ion pol it ics o f
th e place th e secret hab i ts freaks and a dve n
tu res of th e clergy o r professors the vacan t
parishes and thei r p resentees wi th patrons
tuto rs and all other appurtenances of the tythe
pig tail S uch tal k i s very ed i fy i ng certai nl y :
but I take l i ttle del igh t i n i t M y T h eological
p ropensi ties m ay be enclosed wi th i n very smal l
compass and w i th regard to wi tl ings j ibers
o r s uch sm all deer the l ess o ne k nows of them
,

T O [MR

1818

B ER T

RO

M I T CH E LL

1 41

i t is not th e worse Y et there are som e honest

persons with whom I spend som et imes an
afternoon com fortabl y enou g h B efore leav i ng
th i s s ubj ect I w ish to as k how yo u r theological
stud ies are advanci ng and ch ie y w he n you

are to b e at K i rkcal dy
I doub t m y career i n
the abov e l i ne has com e to a close Perhaps
I h av e al ready tol d yo u th at there are a thousand
preach ers o n the el d at present N ow from
calculat io ns fou nded o n da ta furnished m e by
perso ns well versed i n these m atters an d
m anaged by the rules lai d down i n D il wo rth
I nd that the l ast draught o f these expectants
s uppos i ng n o n ew ones to appear i n the i nterim
wil l at th ei r settlem en t b e upo n the v erge of
the i r g ran d cl i macteric
A fte r wh ich the

prospects o f bei ng useful can not one woul d

th i nk be very b right
I am sorry that M athematics cause Hep a t it is
i n you T he pu rsui t o f t ruth is ce rtai nl y the
mos t pleas in g and harml ess obj ect that can
engage the m i nd o f man i n th is t roublous
world : an d where shall we nd he r i n her
nati ve puri ty i f not i n th e sc ience o f quanti ty
.

LE T TE RS

1 42

OF

TH O MA S
[

CA R

L YL E

8 18

and num be r
I cou nsel you to resume you r
O pe rat ions as soo n as your cran i um w il l perm i t
wh i ch I trust w ill happe n w ithout loss o f
ti me Y ou w ill thank m e n o doubt for th is
sag e adv i ce ; but i f yo u knew th e need I have
O f i t m y sel f you woul d be the m ore d isposed to
ad m i re m y ge neros i ty I t is lo ng s i nce I told
yo u I had begu n Wallace and that fo reign
studies h ad cast h i m i nto the shade
T he
same causes stil l obstruct m y pro g ress Y ou
w il l perh aps be su rprised that I am ev e n n o w

n o farther advan ced than the ci rcle of curva

tu re
I h ave found h is demonstrations ci r
bu t ge neral ly rigorous
Y et I m ust
c u it o u s
except the proof of M a c la u rin s theorem i n page

wh ich i f I were not a l ittl e man and

1
4 4
W a lla c e a great I sho ul d have small hes i tation
to pro noun ce u nsatisfactory not to say absur d
I suppose I had read H um e s E ngla n d whe n I
wrote l ast ; an d I need not repeat my op i n ion
o f i t M y perusal o f th e cont i n uat ion eight
v ol umes o f h is tory as i t i s cal led by Tob ias
S mol lett M D and othe rs was a m uch harder
an d more u nprotabl e task
N ext I read
.

TO

818

G ibbon s

MR

B ER T

RO

a nd

D e c li n e

[MI T CH E

F a ll

LL

1 43

Rom a

t /z e

a work o f i m mense research an d

splend id execut ion E m braci ng almost all the
c i v il ised world and extend i ng from the t im e of
T raj an to th e tak i ng of C onstant i nople by
M ahomet I I i n 1 4 5 3 i t con nects the events o f
ancient w ith those o f modern h istory A l ter
matel y del i g hted and offended by the gorgeous
colouri ng w i th wh ich h is fancy i nves ts th e rude
and scanty m ate rials o f h is narrat iv e ; som e
ti mes fati g ued by the learn i n g o f h is n otes
occasionally am used by th e i r l ivel i ness frequently
d isgusted by th e i r ob scen ity and adm i ri ng o r
deplori ng th e b i tterness o f h is skil ful i rony I
to iled th rou g h h is m assy tomes wi th exemplary
pat ience
H is s tyl e i s exuberant sono rous
and epigram m atic to a de g ree th at i s o fte n d is
pl easi ng H e y i elds to H u me i n elegance and
d isti nct ness to R ob e rtson i n talen ts for ge ne ral
disqu is i tio n bu t h e excel s them both i n a
s p ec ies o f b rief and sh rewd remark fo r wh ich
h e seem s to have take n Taci tus as a m odel
m o re than an y oth e r that I k now o f T he

E m i re

I rv i n g s l ibrary

wa s

of g reat use to m e writes

Ca

r l yl e

LE T TE RS

1 44

OF

TH O/MA S
'

CA RL

YL E

18 18

whol e h isto rical tri umv i rate are abu ndantly

des titute o f v i rtuous feel i n g o r i ndeed o f any
feel i ng at all I wo nder what bene t is derived
from read i ng al l th is stuff What bus i ness of
m i ne i s it thou g h T i m ur B eg erected a py ram id
of e igh ty thousand h uman skulls i n the valley
of B ag dad and m ade an i ron cage for B a ja z e t
.

ibbon H ume et c et c I th ink I must have read it a l most

throu g h in c on c eivab l e to me now with what ardour with
what g reedy ve l ocity l itera l ly above ten times the s p eed I c an
now make with any book G i bbon i n p articu l ar I re c o ll e c t
to have read at the rate of a vo l ume a day (twe l ve vo l umes i n
a ll ) ; and I have sti ll a fair re c o l lection of it thou g h se l dom
l ookin g i nto it si n c e I t was of a ll the books p erha p s the
most im p ressive o n me i n my then sta g e of investi g ation and
state of m ind I by no means c om p l ete l y adm ired G ibbon
p erha p s not more than I now do but h is win g ed sar c asms
so qu iet an d yet so con c l usive l y trans p ier c in g and ki ll in g dea d
were often adm irab l e p otent and i ll um i nat i ve to me N or d i d
I fai l to re c og n ise h i s g reat p ower of invest ig atin g as c ertain
i g of g rou p in g a n d narrat i n g ; thou g h the l atter had a l ways
then as now someth in g of a D rury Lane c hara c ter the c o l ours
stron g but coarse an d set off by l i g hts from the side s c enes
had books from E di nburg h C ol le g e Library too (I
W
d lA t
m
remember B ail l y s H t
an c ient an d a l so
modern wh ic h c onsiderab ly disa pp ointed me ) O I rvin g s
she lves were the sma ll D idot F ren c h c lassi c s i n quantity
W ith my a pp et i te shar p
I must have read of F ren c h a n d
E n g l i sh (for I don t re c o ll e c t mu c h c l ass ic a l ity on ly some
th in g f mathemat i c s in interm i ttent s p asms ) a great dea l
durin g those years R m i i
i

'

'

z s o z re

'

s ro n o

ze,

n s ce n c es ,

102

To

818

MR

BE R T

M I T CH

RO

EL L

1 45

A n d what have I to do w i th th e s avage cold

blooded pol i cy of C harles and th e desolati ng
p rogress of e ithe r Zin gh is o r N apoleo n
I t is
i n v ai n to tel l us that o ur k nowledge of hum an
U sefu l
natu re i s i nc reased by the operat ion
k nowledge o f that sort i s acqu i red not by
read i ng bu t expe ri en ce A nd wi th regard to
pol itical advanta g es th e less o ne k nows of
th em the greater w ill be h is del igh t i n the
p ri nciples o f m y Lo rds C astlereagh an d S id
mou th w i th the i r c i rculars suspensions holy
l eagues an d salvat io n o f E u rope Y et i f not
p rot the re i s som e p lea s u re i n h isto ry at al l
eve nts I bel ieve we m us t n ot appl y the c u i
bo n o too ri g oro usl y
I t m ay be enough to
san ction any pu rsu i t that i t gra t i e s an i n no
cent and stil l mo re an ho nou rabl e propens it y o f
th e h uman m i nd Whe n I look back upon
th is para g raph I can not but ad m i t that re
v i ewi ng i s a ve ry bene cial art I f a dul l m an
take i t i nto h is head to w ri te ei ther fo r the
p ress o r th e p ost o f ce wi thout m ate rials at El
dead l i ft i t neve r fail s to ext ricate h i m B ut
too m uch o f on e th in g as i t is i n th e ada g e
,

VO L

I 46

E T TERS

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R L

YLE

818

T h erefo re I reserve the accou nt o f H u me s

E ssa ys t ill another opportu n ity
A t any rate
the secon d vol ume i s not n ished yet and I do
not l i ke what I h av e read o f i t anyth i ng [l i ke ]
s o wel l as I d i d the rst
N ei th er woul d i t b e
p rotabl e to tel l you th e faul ts o f Godw in s
powerful but u n natural and b ombastic novel
o r to s i ng th e p ra ises of R o b R oy wh i ch
have
n
o
doubt
read
and
adm
i
red
ou
su f

y
c ie n t l
al
ready
N
o
r
will
I
say
one
word
y
abou t the s warm s o f m agaz i nes pamphlets
and observat io ns wh ich l ike th e s now that
falls i n th e ri ver are on e m om en t wh i te then
lost fo r eve r H ere ends m y ch apter o f re
v iew i ng
T hough possess i ng a su f c ien t co nden ce
i n th e e f cacy of m y d ilem m a I dare hardly
v e ntu re to de m a n d a speedy answe r to th is
l ette r B ut I do e ntreat you to overcome the
vis i n e rt iw wh ich adheres to m i n d as wel l as
matter and send m e som e acco unt o f you rsel f
with all the veloci ty i m ag i n abl e Y ou will be

odwin s
p ub l ished i n 1 8
1

n ow

h ard l y remembered nove l

M a n de ve tle ,

was

TO

818

MR

B ER T

RO

MI T CH

EL L

1 47

th rough R ussell before now I long to hear

you r est i mate o f h is m eri ts before I try h i m
I am thank ful for you r remarks upo n H u n t
an d H azl itt E xcep t th rough the med ium o f
newspapers and rev iews I hav e n o acquai nt
ance w i th th em H azl itt i s somewh at cele

b ra t e d fo r h i s essay o n
F i n e A rts i n th e
s uppl em en t to th e E n cyc lop d dia B r ita n n ic a ;

and fo r h is c ritique o n S tandard N ovels i n

th e E din bn /c R e vie w I k now not whethe r
you h av e heard anyth i ng of P layfai r s new
demo nstrat io n (fo r s uch h e protests i t is ) o f
the com pos i t io n o f fo rces I hav e no room fo r
i t no w B ut i f yo u l ike you shal l have i t n ext
t im e togethe r w i th the wo n derful s lide upon
moun t P ilatus i n th e canto n o f L ucerne fo r
co nveyi n g t i mbe r to th e l ake w h ich h e e x
a m in e d wh ils t travel l i n g i n fo re i g n parts
and
d esc ri bed wh en I was i n h is class wi th great
com p l ace ncy D o you ever see that slu gg ish
pe rso n J oh nstone o f H it c h ill ? I p rotest bu t
the re i s not space fo r p rotesti n g T el l h i m
s im pl y to w ri te i nstante r i f he w ish h is head
.

usse l l s

H is t o ry

f [Mo de rn

E n roe

1 48

E T T ER S

OF

TITO/MA S

CA R L

to co n ti n ue above h is b a ss bo n e
dear M itchel l you rs faith full y

YL E

8 18

remai n m y
,

T H O M A S CA R LY L E

S
en
d
a
l
etter
qu
i
ckly
an
thou
love
m
e
)
(
.

XXI I
To M r
.

R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
.

K I R K CA LDY

5 m M ay

se

818

M Y D E A R F R I E N D A fter part i ng with you

o n the quay o f B urnt isl and I proceeded S lowly

to th e eastward ; an d seat i ng mys el f upo n th e
b ro w o f that crag from wh ich the poor K i ng
A lexande r bra /e s n eck ba n e I watched you r
eet sail i ng S k i ff t il l i t v an ish ed i n th e m ists
o f the F orth S o M i tch el l is go ne ! thought I
we sh al l h av e no m ore ch at together fo r many
,

eck

he [A lexander
was ridin g i n the dusk of the
evenin g a l on g t h sea coast of F ife betwixt B urntis l and and
K in g horn he a pp roa c hed too near the bri nk of the p re c i p i c e
and h i horse startin g or stumb l in g he was th rown over the
rock and k i lled o n the s p ot I t i now no l ess than ve
h undred and forty two years s i n c e A l exander s death [i n
yet the p eo p le of the country st i l l p oint out the very s p ot where
it ha pp ened and w h i ch i s ca ll ed the K in g s C ra g T l f
df t/
ch vi
G
2

As

ra n

Ie r,

es o

T O [MR

8 18

BER T

[MI T CH

RO

E LL

1 49

a day ; but h e wil l w ri te m e a letter i n a week

at any rate : and wi th that co nsolatory ex
a t io n
I
pens
ivel
y
retu
rned
to
K
i
rkcal
dy
e
c
t
p
I f excess iv e stud ious ness h as frustrated th i s
hope the n i t i s well an d I sh all wai t co n
t e n t e dly t ill som e hou r o f relaxat ion occu r
whe n you m ay sport upo n paper for m y
b e n e t wi thou t detri men t to you r g raver
pu rsu i ts
B u t i f s heer i n dolence possesses
you i t were p roper to cas t off th e nox iou s
spell as soo n as poss ible F ro m th e fact o f
m y w rit in g at p rese nt you m ay conj ecture (an d
rightl y ) that m y o w n avocat io ns are S l ackl y
pu rs ued M y co n duct I fear i s absu rd
I
bel i ev e i t to be a truth (and though no creatu re
bel ieved i t i t would co nt i nue to be a truth )
that a m an s d ign i ty i n th e g reat system o f
wh ich h e fo rm s a part i s exactly proportional
to h i s m o ral and i ntell ectual acqu i reme nts : and
I n d m oreove r that whe n I am assaul ted by
those feel in g s o f d iscon ten t and feroc i ty wh ich
sol i tude at al l t i mes tends to p rod uce and by
that hos t o f m ise rabl e l i ttl e p ass io ns wh ic h are
eve r and anon attem p t i n g to d istu rb o ne s re
.

5o

E T TER S

OF

TII OI MA S

CA R L

YLE

8 18

pose there is no m ethod o f de feat ing them s o

effectual a s to take them i n ank by a zealous
course of study
I be lie ve al l th is bu t m y
pract i ce clashes w i th m y creed I h ad read
som e l ittl e o f Lapl ace when I s a w you ; and I
conti nue to adv an ce w i th a d i m i n ish i ng velocity
I turned as ide i nto Lesl i e s C o n ics an d went
th rough i t i n search of two propos itio ns wh i ch
whe n i n your geom etri cal v ei n you wil l nd
l i ttl e d i f cul ty i n demonstrat ing Take th em
i f you will [P ropos i tio ns om itte d ]
I l ikewise also tu rned as i de i nto C harles
B o ss u t s M eca n iq u e to study h i s dem o nstratio n
o f pendul ums an d h is doctri n e o f forces T he
tex t is o ften ted iousl y expl anatory an d i n th e
n otes i t is but a d i m h alluci natio n o f th e truth
that I can obtai n th rough the m ed i u m o f in
t e gra ls and d i fferentials by wh ich h e com m u n i
cates i t H owev er I am now p retty well co n
v in c e d that a body proj ected from the earth
wi th a veloci ty o f
feet per s econd wi ll
nev er retu rn
I got Lagrange s M eca n iq u e
A n a ly t iq u e al so but to m e i t i s nearly a sealed
book A fter all these d i vari cations and more
,

T O [MR

818

BE R T

RO

[ MI T CH

EL L

51

wh i ch I shall m entio n afterwards you must

pardon m e i f I am not above hal f th rough the
E xp os it io n da syst em e da m o n de
T he rs t
vol um e i s beauti ful and can be u nderstood ;
great part o f the s eco nd is dem onstrated he
says i n th e M eca n zqu e ce leste an d I am obl iged
to be conten t w i th ignorantly adm i ri ng thes e
subl im e m ysteries wh i ch I am assured are de
,

li a

te s

issa

co n n a

les de lic e s de s etre s p e n sa

n ces ,

ns

S u rely i t is a powerful i nst rum en t wh i ch e n

ables the m i nd o f a m an to grasp th e u n i verse
an d to el ici t from i t and demo nstrate such l aws
a s
that whateve r be th e actions of the
pl anets o n each oth er the m ean d istances o f
each from the s u n an d its m ean motio n can
n e ve r ch ange : an d that e ve r
variatio
n
i
n
a
n
y
y
o f the i r elements m ust be period i cal To s e e
these truths m y g ood R obert to fe e l them as
on e does the proport io ns o f th e sph e re and
c y l i nder ! T is a consu mm atio n devoutl y to
be wished but not v e ry l ikel y ever to arrive
S om et imes i ndeed o n a ne even i ng and
whe n I have quen ched m y th i rst wi th large
S
otation
s
o
f
ouchong I say to m y sel f awa y
p
,

L E T TE RS

152

OF

TH O/MA S

CA RL

YL E

8 18

with despo ndency hast thou not a soul an d a

k i nd of u nderstand i ng i n i t ? A nd what m ore
has any analys t o f the m all ? B ut nex t m orn
i ng alas whe n I co ns ide r m y u nderstand i ng
how coarse yet feebl e i t is and how much o f i t
m ust be dev oted to supply the v ulgar wants of
l ife o r to m aster the pal try bu t nev er end i ng
v exations with wh ich al l c reatu res are b e
leaguered I a sk how i s i t possi ble not to
despond ? E spec ially when as ol d C hauce r

said o f the A st ro la by
th e concl us io ns that
have bee n fo u n de n o r ells p o s s ib lye m igh t be
fo u n de i n s o nobl e an i nstru ment be n u n
k n o w e n p e r t e ly to any mo rtal m an i n th is
region as I suppose
B ut I fear you are

t i red o f thes e p ros i ngs you m ust bear wi th

them E xcept i n g th e few fri e nds whom P ro
v ide n c e h as give n m e
and whose k i ndness I
wi sh never to fo rfei t I h ave and am l ikely to
h ave l ittl e else bu t thes e pu rs u i ts to deri ve
enj o y ment from ; and there i s no n e bu t you to
,

h i s treatise of the A t l
i
t after the l at i tude of O x
Lowis my sonne T C
1

V ide

s ro a

b y,

enf
o rde ,

o r zon

for oure

t o i nstru c t lyt l

com

p o wn e d

818

TO

BE R T

[MR

RO

MI T CH E LL

53

tal k i t ove r wi th T hey are al l preach i n g h ere

and care not a straw fo r L apl ace and h is cal e u
l us both Y o u w il l be p reach i ng o ne o f these

d ays too and perhaps b ut i t i s needl ess to

ant i cipate y ou m ust not l eav e o ff M athe

m aties
M oore s L a lla R o o//c and B y ro n s C/i ilde
H a ro ld (canto fourth ) form ed an odd m ix tu re
wi th th ese specul atio ns I t was fool ish you
m ay th i nk to ex change th e t ruths of ph ilosophy
fo r the ai ry noth i ngs of th ese sweet s i ngers :
but I coul d not h el p i t D o not fear that I
w ill s p e n d ti m e i n c ri tic is i n g the t u lip c/Iee /c
M oor e i s but a so rt o f re ned M ahometan an d
wi
th
i
m
mense
d
efere
n
ce
I
th
i
n
k
that
h
is
char
(
)
acte r i n a l ate E din bu rg/c R e vie w i s some
what too h i g h
H i s i ma g i nati o n seldo m q u its
m ate rial eve n sexual obj ects h e descri bes
them adm i rabl y and i n term i n g l es he re an d
there som e beauti ful t rai ts o f natural pathos ;
b ut he seems to h av e fail ed (ex cepti n g partial ly
i n th e F i re VVo rs h ip p e rs ) i n h i s attem pts to
ortray
the
e
rce
o
r
l
o
ft
y
featu
res
o
f
h
uman
p
,

I n an art i cle on L

/[n R o o /u/I ,

II

by J eff ey
r

ovember

L E T TE R S

54

TI I OIII A S

OF

CA RL

YL E

8 18

character M o k a n n a h i n parti cular i nsen s ibl e

to pai n o r p ity o r any earthl y feel ing m igh t
as well at leas t fo r al l p ractical pu rposes
have bee n m ade of clockwo rk as of esh an d
blood
I grieve to s a y th at the catastrophe
ex cited laugh ter rathe r than ho rro r
T he
po iso ned bel ievers s itti ng round the table
with the i r black swol len j obbe r nowl s recl i n i ng
o n thei r b reasts and sau ce r eyes xed upo n
the ill favou red p rophet appeared s o l i ke the
co ncl ud i ng sce ne of an electio n d i n ne r whe n al l
are dead dru nk bu t the P rovost a m an o f v e
bottles w i th a carb uncled face and an amor
h
u s nose that
o
I
was
forced
to
ex
claim
D
u
p
s u blim e a u
r idic u le il n
u u n
M
oore
a
as
y
q
p
is u n iversall y sai d to be th e autho r O f L e t te rs
ro m t /i e F u d e F a m il a work i f I m ay j udge
f
g
y
by copious extracts of extraordi nary humou r
P h il Fudge seems to m ean poo r S outhey I
pe rce ive M itchell that I can not n ish th is
lette r i n t i me for the post as I i nte nded and
s i nce there is still a streak of radiance o n the
horizo n s b rim I may as well g o forth to e nj oy
i t T herefore good bye my old frie nd fo r a
.

818

MR

To

BE R T

RO

M I T CH E

LL

55

short seaso n 8 % o clock P M I I o clock I

retu rn from a sau nter w ith P ears and an u n
protable i nspection o f h is chaoti c l ib rary to
con clude my task P e n n a m ame ns cap io ; nec
s a t ra t io n is i n p en n a
B e easy i n you r m i nd ;
I am go i ng to w r ite not y T hat d issertat io n
upo n the E astern R om ance is s o long w i nded
th at I can not i n consc ience af ict you w ith
any remarks upo n th e deep toned bu t [word
illegibl e ] poetry of Lord B y ron What th i nk
you of h is add ress to A l pho nso duke o f F errara
the pe rsecuto r o f Tasso

form e d to e a t an d b e d es p ise d an d d ie
E v e n as t h e b easts t h at p erish sa v e that t h o u
H a d st a m ore s pl e n d i d tro u g h an d w i d e r st y
I l e / et c
T/zo u

T h is i s emphati c enough
I need not speak
o f D r C hal me rs boisterous treatise upo n the
causes and cu re o f paupe ris m i n the l ast E din
bu rg/c R e vie w
H is reaso n i n g (so they cal l i t )
is d isj o i nted o r absu rd and h is l angua g e a
barbarou s j argo n ag reeable ne ithe r to Gods
no r me n A nd what avail th e C hu rch pol i tics
o f the G ene ral A ssem bl y the pe rfo rmances o f
.

56

E T TE R S

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YL E

818

proo f signo ra (G e ra ldin i

o r the a
e lla t io n s o f B il l B lackwood an d the as pal try
g
anta g on ist o f B ill B l ackwood ? B ut let m e
repress these effusions of van ity ; pleasan t

they m ay be to m ysel f ye t u nbecom ing t ill

I tu rn a renowned m an wh i ch u nl ess th i ngs
be m iserabl y co nducted w ill certainly (o ne
would th i nk ) com e to pass o ne way o r another
Wh at i s th e m atter w ith J oh nstone ? H e is
becom i ng v ery u n g u idable and decl i nes a p

a
re n t l
w
e
i
ther
to
n
th
e
way
of
l
z
o
r
i
i
n
o
p
y
p
wri ti ng lette rs I f you wil l not write to m e
you rsel f M r Robert I cannot hel p i t bu t m ust
co nt i nue though
w it/t o u t t /ze le a s t p refo r
m en t
to subscribe m ysel f you r faith ful bu t
d isconsolate friend
T H O M A S CA R LY LE

t he

re

XXI II

T O

M r J AME S

J O H N ST O N E

K R K C A LD Y
I

6t/c ju

ne

818

D E A R J O H N S T O N E It is about th ree weeks

s i nce after enteri ng m y ch ambe r o n a S u nday
eve n i ng weari ed wi th the to il and s ick w ith the
,

T O [MR

18 18

7 A ME S 7 OH N S T ON E

57

i nan ity of an excu rs ion to E d i nbu rgh m y eyes

were rej oi ced with a s i g h t o f you r l ette r I
must not exchange the se ntime nts w ith wh ich
y ou com me nce ; the part ial ity o f frie ndsh ip and
the modesty o f h i m who feels i t may becom e
excess iv e wi thou t ceas i ng to be am iable
I
h ave l ittl e gen ius fo r the compl ime ntary and
therefore shal l not s a y i n what esteem I hold
you r com mu n i catio ns l et i t b e su f cie nt to
obse rve that the emotio ns they awake n are
among the happ iest o f my l i fe and that you
wri te s o sel dom is the v ery subj ect o f complai nt
M y j ou rney to E d i nbu rgh you have l earned
was productive o f l ittle enj oyme nt H ow should
i t i ndeed
M os t o f m y acquai ntances are look
i ng ou t fo r k i rks ; some by d il ige nt p edagogy
accom pan ie d by a rm bel ie f i n th e excelle nce
o f ce rtai n cou nt ry ge ntlemen and othe rs by
assiduousl y d anci ng atte ndance u p o n the lead
i n g cle rg y me n o f ou r vene rable E stabl ish me nt
T h i s is as i t shoul d be ; bu t I have no p art o r
l ot i n the m atte r T he rest s p eak o f the S t
A n n s treet bui ld ings the B ro w n ie of B o ds
be c/e w ith othe r tal es by J ames H og g and
,

LE T TE R S

58

TH O[MA S

0F

YL E

CA RL

818

th i ngs o f th at stamp N ow the S t A n n street

build i ngs con cern o nl y som e feuars of the ex
tended royal ty ; and as for the B ro w n ie of
B o ds bec b w ith other tal es by J ames H ogg
they seem to have bee n w ri tte n u nde r th e in
u e n c e o f a l iquo r m ore potent than that o f th e
P ierian spri ng S o there needs not b e m uch
said abou t them I f I go to the bookseller s
shop I nd pol em ical S ciol ists and pathet i c
A nd whe n I wal k along the
bea u ce esp r its
streets I s e e fai r wom e n whom i t were a folly
to th i nk o f fo r a mome nt and fops (dandies a s
they are called i n cu rre nt sl ang) S haped l ike an
hou r glass creatu res whose l i fe and death as

C rispi n p i th ily observes

I esteem o f l ike im
portance an d decl i ne to speak o f e ither
It
woul d be ri d iculous to fre t at th is B e i ng a
perso n of hab its I fear somewhat anom alous
belongi ng to no profession and wai ti ng there
fore o n no idol of the t ri be or rather fash io n
abl e o ne to bow down before i t i s but l i ttle
sym pathy I can l ook for
I am far from l augh i ng at you r agricultu ral
stud ies nor i s i t wo nderful that you d isl i ke
-

818

TO

lI R

7 A ME S yOH I VS TOIVE

1 59

.
!

teach i nga love r of i t is rare N o trade bu t

why do I tal k ? D isco ntent is the most vulgar
o f all feel i ngs I t i s utterly usel ess mo reover
more than u seless L e t us cul tivate ou r m i nds
and awai t the issue cal ml y whatever i t may be
T h e honest H ibern ian had noth i ng to support
h i msel f h is wi fe and ch ild ren noth i ng bu t these
fou r bones Y e t he d id not m ou rn no r despai r
Y ou r proj ect o f a tou r to the C u mberland
Lakes meets m y m i n d exactly
G et m atters
arran g ed and I shall gladly accompany you to
K eswick o r U lle s w a t e r o r wheresoeve r you
please
Y ou m u st endeavo u r to have the
route marked o ut before th is n igh t ve weeks
O n S at urday the I s t o f A ugust i f all goes well
I hope to see yo u at M a in h ill Y o u m us t be
there any way i f i t be i n your powe r
T h e last book wo rth m ent ion i n g wh i ch I
have perused was S tewart s P re lim in a ry D is
fo r th e seco nd tim e T he lon g e r I
se rt a t io n
s tudy the wo rk s o f th is ph ilosopher th e m ore I
become co nv i nced o f two th i n g s fi rst that i n
perspicaci t y and com prehens io n o f u nde rstand
i ng h e yi elds to several ; but seco ndly that i n
.

L E T TE R S

1 60

OF

TI I OI MA S

CA RL

YL E

18 18

taste vari ety o f acq u i re men ts an d wh at i s o f

m o re i m portance i n mo ral d i g n i ty o f m i nd
h e h as n o rival that I k now o f E very l iberal
op i n ion has at al l t i mes found i n h i m a zeal ous
advocate When he has co m e before th e publ ic
he has borne h i msel f w i th a carriage s o meek
yet s o co mman di ng and no w when wi th u n
abati ng ardou r h e i s ret i red to devote the l ast
rem nant o f h i s wel l spen t l i fe to th e great cause
o f h uman i mproveme nt h i s att itude is s o pe n
subl
i
me
I
regard
h
i
m
w
i
th
a
reverence
s iv e l
y
wh i ch I s carcel y feel fo r an y oth er l iv i ng person
H e i s a m an take h i m for al l i n all we s hall
not look upo n h is l ike agai n T here i s som e
th i ng m elancholy in the though t that the worl d
cannot long enj oy the l igh t o f such a m i nd
B ut th e cup goes rou nd and who s o artful as
to pu t i t by P oor D onaldso n yo u s e e is cut
off i n t he pri m e o f h is days Poor fellow few
sum m ers have passed s i nce h e was m y com
pan ion as carel ess good n at ured a bei ng as
ever b reathed the ai r o f th is world A n d to
th i n k that he is go ne exc ites m any pai n ful re
e c t io n s upo n the obv iou s but sol em n truth
,

TO M R

18 18

7 A IME S 7 OH N S T OIVE
f

161

that the place wh ich now k nows us w i ll ere

long k now us no m ore at all fo r ev er I t i s
fool i sh we are told to sh ri nk from o r rep i ne at
the u nal terabl e fate to wh ich th is earth and those
that i t i nh eri t h av e been doomed
I t is u n
speakabl y u ngrateful too for who would w is h
to l iv e th us for eve r
A nd o n e year o r a
tho usand ce nturies are the same eeti ng i nstan t
i n th e eve rl asti n g s weep o f ages that h ave been
an d are to come
.

sia e die (sa y s S er v i u s S u lp i c i u s i n h is far fam e d

l etter t o T u lly ) c u m a b A e g i na M g m v e rsu s vig e m
Po st n os e rat A e g i na
c oe p i re g io n e s c i r c u m c ir c a p o p i e e
an te M e g ara de xt f Pi we
i i t C ori nth u s ; q u
O pp i d a q
d m tem p o re e ti im a fu e
t n u n c p ros
t rata a c d i u ta ante o l ja c e n t C p i e go m e t e c m si c
c o g itare H e m n os h o m u n c u l i i dig m
i q u is n ostr u m
i
i t iit au t
est q u oru m ita b e vi esse d e b et c u m
m
p roje c ta ja c e nt ! V isn e
o l o c o tot O pp ido
d v
h ib
t u te S e r v i
i i e hom i
te e sse
et
Ex A

ns

r s

rr

u o

cu

os

u n

ru

n a tu

m ?

co

e re ,

ca

ae

ru n

n
r

oe

o c c su s

er

ar

ss

na

s n s r

u s,

or n

a ra

na

u r, S

or

e ra

r
n er
n

n ss

ner
n

A l l th is may be t rue ph ilosophy yet st il l

som e i nternal tears wil l fal l o n the g raves o f
those whom we hav e l oved and wh o are
departed to that land o f d ark ness and o f th e
shadow of death abou t wh ich so m uch is hoped
,

VOL

1 62

E T TE R S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R

L YL E

818

o r feared and so l i ttl e u nderstood T hose are

m ourn ful thoughts
T hey come across my
m i nd at ti mes i n the still ness o f th e sol itary
n ight and pl unge m e i nto an ocean of fearful

conj ectu res

M y God excl aims th e m el an

and
h
igh
m
i
nded
P
ascal
e
nl
ighten
m
y
c ho l
y
soul or take from i t th is reason i ng curios i ty

M o ntaign e tel ls us that h e reposed upo n th e

p illow of doubt
A nd there i s a day com i ng
i t is eve n now not far d istan t wh en all m i ne
shal l be expl ai ned o r need no explan atio n
I
wil l pursue these re ections no further O n e
th i ng l et us n eve r ceas e to bel ieve whatever b e
o u r desti ny a n uprigh t m i nd is th e greatest
bless i ng we can obtai n o r i m agi n e B el i eve m e
to be yours fai th fully
T H O M A S CA RLY LE
.

X X I V T o M r T H O M A S M U R R A Y M a n se
S o r b i e b y W i gt o w n G a ll o w a y
.

K I R KC A LDY

of

8 m ja ty

MY

818

D EA R S IR
W h i ls t arrangi ng some
scattered papers prev iously to m y departure
from th i s pl ace wh ich I am to leave to morrow
-

181

TO

MR

M U R RA

TH O[MA S

1 63

fo r D um fri essh i re I happened to al igh t upo n

you r letter T h e recollectio n th at i t was u n
answered awakened a feel i ng o f remo rse i n m y
m i n d ; and thou g h i t is near m idn ight I hav e
dete rm i ned to employ th e pass i ng hou r by
writ i ng you a few l i nes by way o f a retu rn
for you r affectio nate farewell
I f I have
not do ne s o sooner i mpu te i t I beseech you
to wan t o f abil ity rather th an of i ncl i nat ion
B e assured I h ave not forgotte n th e m any j oy
ful days wh i ch long ago we spent to g eth er
sweet days o f ignorance an d ai ry hope
T hey
had thei r troubles too but to bear them there
was a l igh t heartedness and buoyancy o f soul
wh i ch the s terne r qual i ties o f manhood an d th e
h arsher b u ffeti ngs that requi re them h ave fo r
eve r fo rb idden to return
I forbear to say m uch o f the pu rsui ts wh i ch
h ave en g aged m e T hey woul d l ittl e i nterest
you I fear Wi th m ost y ou n g m en I have h ad
d ream s of i ntellectual g reatness and o f m ak i n g
m e a nam e upo n th e earth T hey we re l i ttle
else bu t d ream s To g ai n ren own i s what I
do not hope and hardly ca re fo r i n th e p resen t
,

1 64

E T TE R S

OF

TH O[MA S

CA R L

YLE

818

s tate o f my feel i ngs

T he im provem e nt of
o ne s m i nd i ndeed is th e nobles t obj ect wh ich
can occupy any reasonabl e c reatu re : but th e
attai nm en t o f i t requ i res a co ncu rrence o f ci r
c u m s t a n c e s ove r wh ich one has l i ttl e control
I now perce iv e m ore cl early than eve r th at any
m an s O p i n io ns depend not o n h i msel f so m uch
as o n th e age he l i ves i n o r even the
perso ns wi th whom h e associates I f h is m i n d
at al l su rpass th ei r hab its h is a sp irin gs are
qu ickl y que nch ed i n th e narcoti c atmosphere
that su rrounds h i m H e forfeits sympathy and
p rocures hatred i f h e excel but a l i ttle th e d ull
s tandard of h i s n eighbou rs D i f cul ties mul ti
ply as he proceeds and no ne bu t chose n souls
can rise to any heigh t abov e th e lev el of th e
sw i n ish herd U po n th is pri nciple I coul d tel l
you why S ocrates sacri ced at h is death to
E s c u la p iu s why K eple r wrote h is Co sm o
ra
/
t ic H a r m o n
an
d
why
S
i
r
T
homas
M
ore
g y
y
bel ieved the P ope to be i n fal l ible N e ve rth e
l ess one shoul d do what h e can
I need not troubl e you wi th th e particulars
o f m v s i tuati on
M y prospects are not ex
.

18 1

T O [MR

TH O[ MA S

t re m e ly

[M U R R A

1 65

brilli ant at present I h av e qu itted all

though ts o f the ch urch fo r m any reasons wh i ch
i t would b e ted ious perhaps d ispl eas i n g to
en umerate I feel no l ove (I S hould wish to
s e e th e human creatu re that feel s any love
fo
r
)
the pal try t rade I fol low ; and there i s before
m e a chequered and uctuat i ng scene where I
s e e noth i ng clearly but that a l ittl e t ime w ill
n ish i t Y et wh erefore s houl d w e m u rm u r ?
A share o f ev il greater o r l ess (th e d ifferen ce o f
sh ares i s not wo rth m ention i n g ) is the u nal te r
abl e doom o f mo rtal s : an d th e m i nd m ay be
tau g h t to ab ide i t i n peace
C omplai nt i s
g e nerall y despi cabl e al ways wors e than u n
avail i ng It i s an i nstructi ve th i n g I th i nk to
observ e Lo rd B yro n su rrou nded W i th th e
voluptuous ness o f an I tal ian S eragl io chau nt i ng
a m ourn ful strai n ov er th e wretched ness of
h uman l i fe ; and then to contem p late th e poo r
b ut l oft y m i nded E pi ctetus th e slave o f a
c ruel m aste r too and to hear h i m l i ft in g u p
h is voi ce to far d istan t g e ne ratio ns i n these
un forg otten W O I t lS Z A 5 v Sp / v O iAX s
.

c r /ca
y

kew ,

'

0 19

u ro

7 ra 1

a u ra s

a a a ec

M CI /( 0) 9

oc

'

np yu

eu o v

LE T TE RS

1 66

wa

Oe be a Ha

O ea

c,

TII OM A S

OF

Be vu vo v

wen

vr c

CA R

a c

L YL E

O ,m jr
'

8 18

ct AAc

p,

ce it
su f
B
ut
t
ruce
to
moral
isi
ng
p
dw x v wh ich
w i th ou r S to iC to s a y i v X v
be i ng i nte rpreted i s s uffe r a n d a bsta in
I heard w i th pleas u re th at you had got
lice n ce and had preached w ith success
M ay
you soo n obtai n a settl eme nt and feel happy i n
i t A S cott is h clergym an whe n h e does h is
duty faith fully is both a useful an d ho nou rabl e
m ember o f soci ety
When he neglects h is

o f ce and has s ubscri bed h is creed w i th a

s igh or a sm il e (as G ibbo n sp itefully rem arks )
th e less o ne says of h i m the better B u t I
hope other th i ngs of y o u
T h ree weeks ago I h ad a v is i t from th e for
lorn P oet S tewart L ewis H e cam e i nto the
s chool on e morn i ng an d s tood pl um b up w ith
out S peaki n g a word I was touched to s e e the
gray veteran i n tattered clothes an d wi th a
pe ns ive ai r wag i ng agai nst necess i ty the same
u np rosperous battl e wh i ch any ti me these forty
I t is the w y of a n un i nstructed man to b l ame others for
what falls out ill for h i m of one be g innin g to be instru c ted to
b l ame h i msel f but of one wel l i nstru c ted to b l ame neither
another nor himse l f
c v
id a

vr s

Ica c

181

TO

MR

TH O[MA S

[ MU R R A Y

1 67

years has been h is co nstan t occupatio n H i s

wi fe d ied m any mo nth s ago ; an d si n ce that
event h e has bee n protract i ng a m iserable u s e
less ex isten ce (he called it ) by sell i ng smal l
poem s o f h is ow n compos ing I u nderstan d h e
got ri d o f some part o f h is cargo here
and o f
al l h is sorrows by a cop ious potati on of u squ e
H e spok e to m e with m uch grati tude
ba nglI
o f a certai n you ng l ady i n Wigton who fo r
you r sake (I th in k o f that M aster B rook ) had
sough t out h is lodgi ngs and repl en i shed h i s
pu rse H e has m any faul ts and the crown i ng
o ne o f drunke n n ess bu t som e ge n i us l i kewise
and a degree o f taste wh ich co nsi deri ng h is
habi ts and s ituation i s al together surpris i ng
M o reover h e is O ld and poo r and not u nthank
ful fo r any k i nd ness show n h im
I p ity the
man and would not wish to s e e h im d ie a
mend icant
M itchell writ i n g to C ar l y l e on the
t h of O ctober says
Y ou wou l d p robab l y see by the N ews p a p ers the death of
p oor S te w art Lewis H had been somewhere about M x
we ll town tast i n g a l i ttle of his dear q b g/ I I fancied
his face dirty (I have th i s account from his son ) and w i th
l audab l e desi e to g et i t cleaned w ent to the N it h id w here
stoo p in g too l w he to pp led headlon g and w i th di ff culty
.

12

u s

ne

a n

e,
i

re

LE T TER S

1 68

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YLE

18 18

Perhaps yo u are acquai n te d w ith the tragi c

end o f poo r W ill iam I rv i ng who m you o nce
k new T hough augu ri ng l i ttle good o f h im I
never feared that he woul d do that deed wh ich
re nders h is name a th i ng wh ich sober peopl e
m ay not m e ntion B ut now that i t has hap
pened s ui c ide seem s a n ot u nsu itable co nclus io n
to h is frant i c and m iserable way of l i fe
I
bewai l h is m ou rn ful dest iny H ad the talents
wh ich h e certai nly d id possess bee n cul tivated
w i th j udgm ent an d d i rected by pri nc ipl e o f

any k i nd h e m igh t h av e bee n a c red i t to h is

country
I f yo u write to m e before S eptembe r let
your l etter be di rected to M a in h ill near E ccl e
fechan after that period to M rs S kee ns
?
K
i
rkcal
dy
A
re
you
to
l
eave
S
orb
i
e
K irk w yn d
.

g a i ned the side T hou g h h is c lothes were hun g before a re

durin g the n ig ht they were sti ll wet next day ; an i m
m t
y fever ensued an d Lew i s ended h is c han g efu l l ife
i n a l w l od g in g house i n the vi llag e of R uthwe ll T h l east
th i n g that I c ould do was to attend the funera l of hi m who
had ded i cated his p oems to the S tudents of his native A nnan
dale H was decentl y interred i n th i s chur c hyard where
a stone w i th a su i tabl e i ns c ri p tion as i s customary i n c ases
of th i s kind i s about to be erected to hi s memory
.

or

F A TH

TO H I S

8 18

ER

1 69

I m ust h ear o f you r desti natio n D uri ng the

vacatio n I i n ten d to v is i t th e C um berlan d L akes ;
and I shoul d l i ke to s e e G alloway also but I
cannot m ake i t out th i s S um m er W ill you be
i n E d i nbu rgh any t i m e soo n
When or where
shal l I s e e yo u ? W rite m e a l etter at l east
when yo u can nd l eisure and bel iev e m e to be
my dear M u rray you rs faith fully
.

T H OM A S CA RLY L E
X XV

T o h is F A T H E R

K R K CAL DY 2d S pt m b 1 8 1 8
F A T H E R H av i ng arri ved i n safety
I

M Y D EA R

er

at th i s place I s it d ow n to give you an accoun t

of m y adventu res by th e way and my pro
c e e din s
s
i
nce
I
left
th
e
M
a in h ill
A
fte
r
g
S hak i ng hands w i th S andy I w in ded down the
Ba ile yh ill easi ly forded th e B lack E sk and
roceeded
alon
g
th
e
banks
o
f
i
ts
s
iste
r
st
ream
p
to E s k da le m o o r m anse wh i ch I reached abou t
seve n o clock
I cas t man y an anx i ous thou g h t
afte r S and y and th e ho rses wh i ch h e was
cond ucti n g : bu t I ho p e they arri ved i n safet y
,

LE T TE R S

1 70

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YL E

1818

after all
T he m i n ister i s a k i nd h o s p it
able m an S atu rday m orn i ng was wet and he
woul d fai n have pe rsuaded m e to stay al l day
with h im but whe n he coul d not succeed he
spread befo re m e a large map o f D um friessh ire
poi nted out th e bes t road and gav e m e a l i ne
to o ne A n derso n (a cous i n of h is wi fe ) from
whom I was to get som e meat as I passed
Lyart upo n M e gga t water
A fte r m y depart
u re th e rai n sl acken ed a l ittl e but the h illtops
were cove red w i th a dark m ist wh i ch th e wi nd
tossed about b riskly I p roceeded up the E sk
wh i ch origi nates abou t S ix m iles above the
m anse i n the j u nct io n o f two streams th e Tom
le u c h a r and the G le n de rg o f wh i ch th e l atte r
rises near the eastern ed g e o f E tt ric k Pen the
forme r a few m iles eastward A scendi ng Gl en
derg I came i nto E ttri ck water wh ich I crossed
at a place called C o s s e r s h ill w he re a h o sp it
abl e but sl utt ish an d i nqu is it i ve old wom an
g av e m e some potatoes etc with d i rections
fo r nd i ng K is k e n h o p e the head o f th e two
Lochs (S t M ary s an d the Lowes ) upon Y arrow
wate r d istan t about four m iles I was upo n
,

818

TO H IS

F A TH E R

17 1

the b row of a sol i tary ridge o f m oorl and h ills

when I saw th e two clear bl ue lakes an d i n
abou t hal f an hou r I had crossed th e stream
wh i ch u n ites them and was upo n th e road up
M e gga t a b rook wh ich rises a l ittl e to th e
north of Wh itecom b and j oi ns th e easterm ost
l ake (S t M ary s ) after a co urse of about s ix
m iles When I got to A nderson s at Lyart i t
was al mos t seve n o clock and h is s ister p ressed
m e mu ch to stay al l n i g h t th e m an (an arrant
m iser as I fou nd afte rwards ) d id not p ress m e
so keenly
A s i t was rai n i ng a l ittl e and
P eebles fou rteen m iles d istant I though t o f
accepti ng thei r i nv itat io n and h av i ng got some
tea was e ndeavou ri ng to e nte r i nto som e co n
versatio n wi th th is ri ch old farme r B ut whe n
h e perce i ved that I was go i ng to conti nue w ith
h i m al l n i g h t h e becam e so chu rl ish i n h is
repl ies that I could th i nk o f i t no longer and
tak i n g m y hat and st ick I thanked h i m fo r h is
e nte rtai nme nt and c rossed t he wate r o f M e gga t
l eav i n g th is N abal o f Y arro w wi th h is s ister
i n utte r amazemen t at m y departu re fo r i t was
n ow nea r e igh t and th e n i g h t was rai ny B ut
,

172

E T TERS

TITO/MA S

OF

CA RL

YLE

8 18

i n h al f an hou r I cam e i nto road wh i ch I had

trav el led ove r before (as I cam e down ) and
though th e rai n co nt i nued I reached the house
wh
ich
O f a k i nd herdsman upo n M anor wate r
(
comes i nto th e T weed n ear P eebles ) and m et
wi th a warm recept io n from h i m after n i ne
o clock N ex t morn i ng was d ry and th e day
becam e w i ndy : s o I arrived at E d i nbu rgh that
sam e afternoo n about ve and staid al l n igh t

w ith D onal dson formerly I rv i ng s assistan t at

K i rkcaldy N ext day I saw M r L esl ie who
was v ery k i nd and got m e a book that I was
want i ng fro m th e l ibrary and tal ked w ith m e
abou t two hours v ery frankly I al so purchased
fo r m y k i nd M oth er a black bo n net wi th ribands
and othe r equip ments wh i ch the people engaged
to pu t i nto a box and sen d by Gav i n J oh nsto n
the A n nan carri er I hope s h e wil l accept of
i t for m y sake who owe her s o m uch
I t is
d i rected to th e care o f Robert B rand Lockerbie
I enclose you a d raugh t for 1 5 wh i ch you
wil l k now how to d ispose of I t i s not l ikely
that I shall feel any want o f i t at present an d
no o ne can have a b etter righ t to i t than you
,

TO H IS

818

F A TH

ER

173

M y p rospects i n th is place are far from

b ri ll iant at present A bou t a mo nth before I
wen t away a bod y h ad establ ish ed h imsel f i n
m y neighbourhood an d ta ken up a school b ut
could m ake nex t to noth i ng of i t D u ri ng the
vacat ion however he seems to have succeeded
i n getti ng most of m y scholars and t o day I
m ustered o nl y twelve
T h is w ill nev er do
T h e peopl e s rage fo r novel ty is th e cause o f it
I suppose for th e poor c reature i s very ignorant
an d very m uch g i ve n to d ri nk I m ake no
doubt I coul d re establ ish the s chool bu t th e
fact is I am ver y m uch ti red of the t rade and
v ery anx ious to nd some othe r way of m ak i n g
my b read an d th is i s as good a t i me for t ry i ng
i t as any othe r I rv i ng i s g o i ng away too and
I shal l have no assoc i ate i n the place at all
I
th i nk I coul d nd p ri vate teach i n g perhaps
about E d i nbu rg h to suppo rt m e till I coul d fall
i nto som e other way o f do i n g A t an y rate I
h av e mo re than seventy p ounds (bes ides what
I send you ) o f read y m oney and that m i g h t
kee p m e fo r a season I n sho rt I o nl y wai t fo r
you r ad v ice t il l I g i ve i n m y res i g natio n agai nst
.

1 74

E T TE RS

TH O[MA S

OF

YL E

CA RL

1818

the begi n n i ng o f D ecember I have though t o f

t ryi ng the l aw and several oth er th i n g s but I
h av e not yet go t correct i nfo rm ation about any
o f them G ive m y k i ndes t love to al l m y
b ro thers and s isters
I expec t a l etter very
soon fo r I shall be u nhappy t ill I resol ve upo n
som eth i ng
I n the m eanti m e howeve r I
remai n m y dear F ath er yours affectio nately
.

T H OM A S CA RLY L E

I h ave no t yet seen m uch o f the co untry

but th e crops seem more backward than i n
D um fri essh i re
T hey are busy exporting
potatoes from th i s pl ace to E ngland what
part I k now not s o the articl e w ill probabl y
b e cl ear
,

X X V I F ro m
.

h is

M OT H E R

M A IN H ILL, 3 1 s t Oct o ber

818

D E A R T O M Y o u wil l by th i s t i m e b e th i nk
i ng th at I have fo rgot yo u qu ite but far from
th at yo u are l ittl e out of m y m i nd
I h ave sent
your socks they are not s o n e as I coul d have
wi shed not hav i ng as m u ch [wool ]as could b e
,

F R OM

818

'

H IS

M O TH E R

75

done o n the m i ll but I hope they will do for

the wi nter I recei ved the b on n et i t I S a v ery
good on e I doubt it woul d be v ery h igh
I
can o nly th an k you at th is t i m e I have been
rather u neasy abou t you r settleme nt b ut seek
d i rectio n al way fro m H i m who can give it
aright and m ay H e be thy gu ide T om I h ave
been v ery u neasy about your th i ngs be i ng so
long i n g o i ng o ff but o ne d isappo i ntm en t after
anoth e r i t i s s o T el l m e i f anyth i ng els e i s
wanti ng that i s i n m y power and I will get it
yo u I hav e reaso n to be thankful I am st ill i n
good heal th and S p i ri ts yet I wo uld be grat i ed
m uch to hear of yo u com fortabl y settled n eve r
Le t u s learn to subm i t and take i t as
t h e le s s
God i s pleased to send i t I t i s a world o f
t rouble at the best W ri te m e soon T om do
and tel l m e al l you r n ews g ood and bad We
hav e g ot all ou r c r 0 p i n ; i t looks v ery well
I
daresay you wil l hav e heard o f M rs C al vert s
death S h e d ied soo n after you wen t away
rath e r hastil y B u t I daresay I h av e a s m uch
wri tten as you will be abl e to read well S e nd
me a lo ng letter T ell m e hones tl y i f thou
,

E RS

1 76

OF

L E TT

L YLE

TH O[MA S

18 18

CA R

reads a C hapte r every d ay and m ay th e Lo rd

bless and keep thee I add no mo re but remai n
you r lov i n g mother an d s i n ce re friend
,

M A R G A R E T CA R LY LE
X XV I I

To

M r R M I T C H E LL R t h w ll M n
.

se

K I R K C A L D Y 6 th N v m b 8 1 8
M Y D E A R M I T C H E LL A bou t a week ago I
receiv ed a letter fro m the M agistrates o f th is
bu rgh (wh i ch letter I eve n n ow u s e as a blot

sheet ) accepti ng m y res ignat i o n of th e Teacher

o f the G ram mar school as th ei r ph rase goes :
an d i n a fortn igh t I shall qu i t m y present s itua
t io n A l though I relate th is even t s o ab ruptly
m y part i n i t h as no t bee n perform ed w ithout
p rofou nd del iberat i o n Y o u sh al l hear i t all
T he m iseries of school teach i ng were known
long b efore th e seco nd D ionys i us who opened
shop i n th e c i ty o f C ori nth abou t th e m iddle
o f th e fou rth ce n tury before C h ris t
Luc ian
th
e
V
ol
tai
re
of
ant
iqui
ty
has
left
h
is
O pi n ion
)
(
i n wri ti ng th at wh en th e Gods h av e determ i ned
to render a m an rid i culously m iserabl e they
,

er

181

TO

MR

BE R T

[ MI T CH E L L

RO

77

make a school m aster of h i m ; an d an e xp e ri

e nce o f m ore than fou r years does not i n my
own case au thorise m e to co ntrad ict th i s asser
t io n B ut o f late th e l oss of m y compan io n s
I
rv
i
n
who
left
us
l
as
t
S
atu
rday
and
P
ears
(
who will depart i n te n days ) to ge ther w ith som e
co nv i ncing proo fs o f u npopularity ha v e gi ve n
to m y re ect ions o n th is s ubj ect a compl ex io n
mo re serious th an ord i nary
I hav e thought

I n the s p ace of two years writes C arlyle i n h is

[r m i i
or rather more w had ll g ot tired f
(i
s c hoo l masterin g a n d i ts mean contrad i ct i ons and p oor resu l ts
I rv i n g a n d I qu i te resolute to g ive i t u p for g ood the head l on g
P iers [ i ]d i s i ncl ined for i t on the then term s l on g er a n d i n the
end of 8 9 (or 8 at th i s hour I know not which and the
ol d L tt wh i ch w ou l d how are too dee p hidden ) we ll three
went away I rv i n g and I to E d inburg h Piers to h i s own E ast
C ountry whom I never saw a g ai n with eyes p oor g ood
rattl i n g sou l I rv i n g s outlooks i n E d i nb urg h were not of the
best cons i derab l y checke ed with d ub i ety pp osit i on or even
t d i sfavou r i n some quarters ; but at least they were far
su p erior to m i ne and i ndeed I was be gi nn i n g m y fou r or ve
m ost m i serab l e dark s i ck and heavy laden years I rvin g after
some sta gg erin g s aback h i s seven or e ig ht healthiest an d
b r ig htest H had I shou l d g uess as one i tem severa l g ood
hu ndreds of money to wa i t u p on M y f /i m I don t
l
l ect but i t could not have exceeded
I was w i thout
fr i ends ex p erience or connection i n the s p here of human
bus i ness w of shy humou r p roud enou g h and to p
and
had be g un my lon g curr i culum of d) p p i which has never
ended since
,

0
g

scen ces

s c

e rs

'

nc n

re c o

a s

s a

a re ,

VOL

E RS

L E TT

178

OF

TH O[MA S

CA RL

YL E

181

m uch a nd l ong o f the i rkso me d rudge ry th e

sol i tude the gloom of my cond it io n I rea
s o n e d th us : T hese th i ngs m ay be e ndured i f
not w i th a peaceful heart at l eas t w i th a sere ne
cou ntenance ; b ut i t is wo rth wh ile to i nqu i re
whether th e pro t wil l repay the p ai n o f e nd ur
i ng th em A scanty and p recarious l i vel i hood
co nstitutes the prot ; y o u k now m e and ca n
form som e j udgm en t o f the pai n B u t there i s
loss as well as pai n
I S peak not of th e loss of
heal th : b ut the destruc ti o n o f ben evol en t feel
i ng th at seari ng of th e h eart wh ich m isery
espec ially o f a petty k i n d soo ner o r l ater w il l
never fail to effect is a m ore frightful th i ng
T he des i re wh i ch i n com m on w ith al l m e n I
feel for conversat io n an d soci al i ntercourse is I
nd envel oped i n a de nse repuls ive atmosphere
no t of v ul g ar m a u va ise b o n te though such i t
i s generall y esteemed but o f deeper feel i ngs
wh i ch I partly i n heri t fro m natu re and wh ich
are m ostl y d ue to th e u nde ned stat ion I h ave
h itherto occupi ed i n soc iet y I f I conti nu e a
school master I fear the re i s l ittl e reason to
doubt th at these feel ings will i ncrease an d at
.

T O [MR

8 18

B ER T

M I T CH

RO

EL L

1 79

last d ri ve m e e nt i rel y from the k i ndl y sym pa

th ies of l i fe to b rood i n s ilence over the b itter
ness i nto wh ich m y frie ndly p ropens i ties m ust
be changed Where t/Ie n would b e my com
fort ? H ad I l ived at A the ns i n th e plast ic
,

days o f that brill ian t com mo nweal th I m ight

h ave pu rchased
a narrow pal try tub and
pleased mysel f w ith utteri ng gall among them
O f C y nosarges
B ut i n these tim es when
pol i tical i nsti tut ions and i ncreased c iv i l isatio n
h ave xed th e texture o f society wh en R el i
gio n has th e p riv ile g e o f prescri b ing p ri nc iples
o f co nduct fro m wh i ch i t i s a crim e to d issent
whe n the refo re th e aberrations of p h ilo s o p h i
cal en thusi asm are re g arded not w i th ad m i ratio n
but contempt wh en P lato woul d be d issected
i n th e E din a g/c R e vie w an d D iogenes l aid
h old o f by a S oc i ety fo r the S upp ressio n o f
B ut
B e gg ars in th ese t imes it m ay not be
th is cure o r an y othe r th at I know o f not be i ng
a p pl icabl e i t we re bette r to av o id th e d isease
T/z e refo re I m u s t c e a se t o be a p e da gogu e
T he
,

gymnas i um outs i de A thens where A nt i sthenes tau g ht

whence the C ) i some say d ix d thei r name
1

The

n c s,

er

LE TTER S

1 80

TH O[MA S

OF

L YLE

CA R

818

questio n i s now red uced w ith i n a narrower

compass I t remai ns o nl y to i nqu i re at what
ti me I can q ui t th is employ m en t w ith th e
greatest chance o f n di ng another B u t h ow
excep t by som e b ri sk sall y am I l i kely ever to
emerge from my th ral dom
S can tily suppl ied
wi th books without a ri val o r a com rade i n
the pu rsu i t o f any th i ng s cie nt i c l i ttl e can be
ach i ev ed i n th at d i rectio n
W i th none h ere
eve n to s/z o w m e th e v arious ways o f l i v ing i n
the worl d m uch less to help m e i nto any o f
th em reduced to co ntemplate the busy scene
of l i fe th rough th e n arrow apertu re of pri nted
books D amoetas bei ng j udge I hav e a righ t
m etaphorically speak i ng to be h is great A pollo
i nasmu ch as I hav e fou nd an d occup ied that
s tatio n where th e space o f h eaven e xtends not
more than th ree ells
T he brightest o f m y
days too are y i ng fast over m y head an d the
sooner I resol ve the bette r
B es ides at th is
t i me (th at of I rv i ng s departu re ) I give my em
.

qu i bus i n terris t er i s m i hi mag nus A p o ll o

T r i s p t t c oe li s p atium non m p li
u lnas
V i r gi l E l g i i i
4
5
D ic ,

ea

u s

c o

10

10

TO M R

8 18

B ER T

M I T CH

RO

EL L

181

l
o ye rs
p

the ttest opportu n ity to erect a n i nsti

t u t io n fo r educat io n th at m ay end thei r woes
o n that h ead wh i ch fo r th e last S i x years have
bee n n ei the r few no r s mall I n short th e p re
sent i s the t i me A n d I wrote m y dem iss io n
o n th e 2 3 d O ctobe r accord i ngly A fter re c e iv
i ng the ans wer abov e al luded to th e bus i ness
seem ed to be done ; whe n o n M o nday l ast a
certai n ve ry k i n d and worthy banke r M r S wan
attended by another perso n cam e to ask m e
whethe r i f th ey coul d o ffe r m e a salary betwee n
1 2 0 an d 1 5 0 fo r teach i ng i n a pri vate
capac i ty som e th i rty scholars I woul d not be
i nduced to remai n anothe r year amo ng them
U po n m y s i g n i fy i n g an assent they l eft m e to
procu re subscri bers I suppos e ; an d I h ave
h eard no m o re o f thei r p roceed i n g s B ut fo r
th is proposal th e probabl e success o f wh ich I
can not estimate an d do not rate h i g hly
E d i nbu r g h is ce rtai nl y m y d esti natio n fo r th e
wi nte r
I hav e cal cul ated that w i th eco nomy I
can l ive there fo r two years ; i ndepende ntly o f
private teach in g wh i ch howeve r I shoul d not
,

1 82

L E TT

E RS

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YL E

18 18

refuse i f as is not l ikely I t S houl d offe r i tsel f

D uri ng that period if I d o not study I deserv e
to con ti nue igno rant M i neralogy i s to be m y
wi nter s work I h ave thought of wri ti ng fo r
booksellers R is u m te n ea s ; for a t tim es I am
serious i n th is m atte r I n ne weathe r i t does
stri ke m e that there are i n th is h ead some
ideas a few disjec ta m e m bra wh ich m igh t nd
ad m ittance i nto som e one of th e m any publ ica
t io ns of the day T o l iv e by A uthorsh i p was
ne v er m y i nten tion
I t is sai d no t to be
com mo n at present ; and happily s o : fo r i f we
m ay credi t b iograph ers th e least m iserable day
of an author s l i fe i s general ly the last
,

c ur e ! for wh o w o u l d l os e
T h o u g h fu ll o f p ai n t h is i nte ll e c t u a l b e i n g
T h o s e t h o u g hts t h at wa n d e r t h r o u g h et e rn it y
T o p e ris h rat h e r s wa llo w d u p an d l ost
I n th e wi d e w om b o f u n c re ate d n i g h t
D e v o i d o f s e nse an d m ot io n ?
Sa d

I have m ed itated an attem pt upon the p ro fe s

s ion o f a l awye r o r o f a ci v il engi neer ; though
wh at perso n woul d afford m e any ass istance i n
executi ng e i the r o f these proj ects I can not say
I t i s doub tful ifI can even learn the n atu re o f the
,

TO

18 18

[MR

BE R T

[MI

RO

T CH

ELL

1 83

obstacles to be overcom e and th e recompense o f

s uccess T h i s i s th e mos t p rovok i ng th i ng o fa ll
yet how to rem edy i t
I h av e th ough t of ask
i ng M r D u nca n fo r an i ntroductio n to som e of
h i s friends i n E d i nbu rgh who m igh t info rm
m e at least upo n th ese po i nts h el p me to get
books and show m e cou ntenance i n other ways
that m igh t no t i nterfere wi th thei r ow n con
v e n ie n c e
T ell m e what you th i n k o f th is
B ut do not m entio n i t to M r D ; he m ight
regard i t as an open i ng of the rs t parallel and
t /Ia t woul d be a m istake
When (i f ever) I
S hal l h ave co nv i nced mysel f that i t is righ t to
ov ercom e the s crupl es wh i ch o ne natu rally feels
a g ai ns t ask i n g such a favou r fo r the rst tim e
i n o ne s l i fe I shall wi sh to execute the task
wi thou t any u n necessary m ean ness
T he
m i n iste r here i s a wo rthy k i nd man : but he
has been beset w i th s i m i lar appl icatio ns and I
cannot troubl e h im
Last t i m e I was i n E d i ti
b u rg h I called at P ro fesso r C h ristiso n s w i th
ful l p u r p ose o f tal k i ng wi th h i m u p o n th is s u b
j c e t bu t the g ood m an was al ready env i ro ned
w i th a c rowd o f h u n g ry s c h o o lrn a s t e rs I fel t
,

1 84

E T TER S

TH O[MA S

OF

CA R

L YL E

818

for mysel f an d m ade m y ex i t i n hal f an hou r ;

thou g h no t t i ll he h ad expou nded the v iews o f
M ess ieu rs D u e f an d S abat ie r an d d iscussed
th e m eri ts of S i r J am es M ack i ntosh the K ing
th e late Lo rd H opetou n D r P arr th e C al ton
h ill observatory w i th twenty o ther th i ngs i n
a way wh ich (no offence to th e G eneral ) I
could not th i n k v ery ed i fy i ng M r Lesl ie has
al ready befrie nded m e ; I m ust al l ow h im to

pursue th e l abyri nth s of P hys ical research

wi thou t m olestat io n Y et w i thout som e s uch
i nterfere n ce I m ust be conte nted w i th a nge ls
C ollege l i brary an d m y soci ety
visits to the
m ust co ns is t o f p rivate teachers and p roba
t io n e rs a class o f creatu res (I speak i t wi th
a s igh ) not th e leas t desp icabl e i n E d i n
burgh The ir i deas are S illy an d grovell i ng
thei r m i nds u nv is i ted by any generous se nt i
m ents ; I love them not ; and o f cou rse the
feel i ng w i ll be m utual
Y o u see m y boy that m y prospects are not
th e b righ test i n natu re Y et w hat shal l we
?
C
o
nten
tment
that
l
i
ttl
e
p
racti
sed
v
i
rtue
sa
y
has bee n i ncul cated by sai nt by savage and by
,

818

TO

[MR

B ER T

RO

[MI T CH

EL L

1 85

sage and by each from a d iffere nt pri nc ipl e

D o not fear that I sh all read you a hom i ly on
that hack neyed theme S i mply I w ish to tell
you th at i n days o f dark ness fo r there a re
days when m y support (pri de o r wh ateve r i t i s )
has e nough to do I nd i t useful to remem ber
m ay
that C l eanth es whose {if 9 is 6 O
l ast yet another two thousand years never
m urm u red wh en h e l abou red by n igh t as a
street porter that h e m i g ht hear th e lectu res o f
Zeno by day ; and that E p i ctetus the il l used
S lave o f a c ruel ty rant s as w retched m i n io n
wrote that E nch irid io n wh ich m ay forti fy the
soul o f th e latest i nh ab itan t o f E arth B es ides
though nei th er o f these m e n had adorned thei r
spec ies i t i s m o ral ly certai n that ou r earthly
j oys o r gri efs can last bu t fo r a few b rie f years
and thou g h the latter we re etern al com plai n t
an d despo ndency coul d ne i the r m itigate the i r
i ntens i ty no r sho rten the i r du ration Th ere
fore m y d uty and th at o f eve ry m an o n th is
poi n t i s cl ear as l igh t i tsel f
E xcuse my dear M i tchell the e go t is rn o f
th is al m ost i nte rm i nabl e le tte r I h ave few
.

/. 12 0

co n

1!

1 86

LE TT

E RS

LE

TH O [MA S

OF

CA R L Y

1 8 18

othe r frie nds before who m I can u nfol d my

sec re t soul D o not s a y w i th th e F ren ch wit
.

on

im e m ie u x dire da m a l de

po i

a r/e r

s o i -m

em e q u
,

de

t h is rather as an
a u r ic u la r c o n ess io n
i
ntended
to
answer
with
f
o the r pu rposes that o f m arshall i ng m y own
reasons for m y co ndu ct that I m ay be th e
bette r able to meet th e res ul t whatever i t be
wi th a resol ute sp i ri t I h ave left mysel f n o
room fo r cri tic ism (falsel y so called ) o r remarks
upo n yo ur i n teresti ng l etter H ow ful l y I par
t ic ip a t e i n you r feel i ngs w i th regard to th e m en
o f C amb ridge w il l appear from the fo re g o i ng
pages Y et n eve r despai r R em ember J ere
m i ah H o rro x J oh n K epl er S am uel J oh nson
and a cloud o f other w it nesses H ave you a d
Y o u woul d not o r w ill
v a n c e d far i n G ibbo n
not fai l to adm i re the characters o f S til i cho of
A e t iu s o f B on i face of B el i sarius wh ilst the
th ree fold co f n o f A tt i la the H u n w it h th e
barbari c sple ndour o f h is l i fe and funeral no
less than th e bo istero us S pi ri t of A lari c the
Goth whose bones ye t repose beneath the
waves of the C osenza m igh t i n ame you r
n en

R egard

181

T O [MR

BER T

[MI T CH

RO

EL L

1 87

fancy wi th m artial pomp and ci rcumstance

What th i nk you o f G ibbo n s v i e ws o f the hab its
and opi n ions O f those ages h is u nderstan d i ng
h is s tyle ? I w i l l not S peak of Watso n s
a n i nterest i ng clear
h istory o f th e t wo P h i l ips
wel l arranged and rather feebl e m i nded work ;
any m ore than o f th e H a r ringt o n a n d Orm o n d
o f E dgeworth o r the c haotic j umbl e of A n a
lyt ic a l i nst itutions P oems E ncyclop aed ias Re
v i ews wh ich o f late I hav e gra pp led wi thal
I
am gl ad to nd you pl eased w ith you r N ewto n
th e carriage was 1 3 8 d th e res idue I keep
fo r you O f course you wi l l wri te to m e before
I l eave th i s pl ace I s a y o f cou rse I was
go i ng to ask whethe r o u r frien d J oh nsto ne w a s
i n the body whe n lo a le tte r fro m h i m reached

it shal l be answered tell h im i n due

me
t i me I m ou rn fo r poo r Le wis W here i s h is
S ir S am uel R om il ly too !
son
H is pee r i s
not wi th i n th e emp i re
B ut I h ave done
W ri te (o bse c ro ) i n l ess than a week to my
dear M i tchell you r faith ful fri e n d
.

T H OM As

CA R LY L E

LE TTERS

I SS

X X V I I I T o
.

0F

TIJ OZ
II A S

CA RL YL

1818

R M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M n

Mr

E D IN BU R G H
M Y D E AR M I T C H E LL

7 M [Vo we l/ Ma r

8 18

se

T ll O S

who h ave n eve r

k nown what i t i s to bu ffet w ith F ortune a nd to
hear the v oice o f a frie nd e nco uragi ng th em i n
the stri fe can not u nderstand th e pleasu re wh ich
I fel t from read i ng you r letter
I t found m e
on th e ev e o f m y departure from K i rkcaldy
T he plan of a subscript io n school was accord
i ng to m y expectation g ive n up for wan t o f
s ubscribe rs I was p acki ng m y clothes and
books wri ti ng d i rectio ns settl i ng accou nts
weigh i ng an cho r i n s hort to v e ntu re o nce
agai n w ith l i ttl e bal last prov is io n o r experi ence
upon th e s to rm y ocean o f l i fe ; whe n you r a d
mon i tio ns cam e to shed a gl eam of l ight athwart
m y rough and doubtful cou rse I than k you
for th em w ith al l m y soul If I h ave not done
i t sooner o r i f I do i t now i n a cl umsy way I
des i re you to co ns ider the t roubl e an d v exat ion
wh i ch a change of p la c e and hab its p rod uces
an d i f th is excuse will not sat isfy you add to i t
that fo r som e days I h av e enjoyed very p oo r
-

TO

818

AI R

RO B ER T

MI

TCHELL

1 89

health wh ich two o un ces o f s ul p hate o f mag

I s wallowed two hours ago ha v e
n e s ia wh ich
not yet tended to d im i n ish
I t would be rid iculous to affec t d ispl eas u re
at you r k i nd v iolatio n of my proh i b i tio n Y ou
h av e acted towards m e as became a frie nd
To M r D uncan who possesses the rare talen t
o f con ferri ng obl igations w i thout wound i ng th e
van ity of h i m who recei ves them and th e
stil l rarer d ispos itio n to ex erci se th at talent
al l grat i tud e i s due o n m y p art I t i s needless
to s a y mo re abou t m y feel i ngs upo n th is head
Wi th regard to the ab il it ies wh i ch yo u are
k i nd enough to s uppos e that I possess for wri t
i ng i n R ev i ews and E n c yc lo p a a dia s I have
m uch doubt : I hav e ve ry l ittl e respecti n g th e
al acri ty w ith wh ich I shoul d engage i n these
e nterprises
A t all even ts I am h ighly in
debted fo r al l that has al ready bee n done i n
th at m atter ; and s hal l rece i ve wi th great
thank ful n ess the i ntrod ucto ry lette rs wh ich
you me ntion
T he countenance and co n
1
ve rsatio n o f such a m an as D r B rewster
,

S i r D av i d B re w s t er

LE TTERS

1 90

CA RL YLE

TH O/II A S

818

cannot fail to be both g rati fy i ng a nd i nstruct

i ve to o ne i n m y c i rcumstances If I m istake
not I have see n M r H e nde rso n at Ru thwel l
M anse H is man ners seemed to be such as
becom e a ge ntl em an T he i n fo rmatio n wh ich
m i g h t be derived from h i m concern i ng the
p ro fess io n o f l aw i s wh at I earnestly d es i re
P erhaps yo u are curio us to k now the state
of m y feel i ngs at th is c risi s o f my affai rs I
need not u s e m any words to describe th em
C o nce iv e to yoursel f a person of m y stamp
abou
t
wh
ich
you
s
houl
d
k
now
someth
i
ng
be
(
fo re th i s t i me ) loosened from al l h is engage
m en ts w i th m ank in d seated i n a s m all room
i n 8 R ich mo nd S treet revol v i ng i n h is
altered soul th e various tu rns o f fate b elow
wh ilst every t i me that th e remembrance o f h is
forlorn cond it io n comes across h is b rai n h e

s ilently exclaim s Why the n th e worl d s m i n e

oys ter ; wh i ch I (not w i th s w o m as A ncie nt
P istol ) will ope n
as best I m ay : and you w il l
hav e som e i dea of m y s i tuatio n
I am not
?
unha pp y : fo r why
I have got S aussure s
Voya ges a m z s [es A lp es ; and i t is my i nte ntio n
.

181

TO

J IR

RO B ER T

II I T CH E L L

'

191

to accom p any h im before m uch t i m e sh al l

el apse to the sum m i t of th e 19 676 as well as
to the C0! a u G cm i
B es i des I hav e I rv i ng
to tal k w ith abou t chem istry o r th e m oral
subl i me F rances D i xo n also and Waugh to

spout p oetry n ot by we igh t and m easu re b ut

i n a plenteous way T he re are others too a
n umerous an d n amel ess th rong I s a w that
adm i rabl e c reatu re M r E s b ie som e weeks
a g o at K i rkcaldy H e cam e i n company w ith
o ne Gal loway a sm al l dogmat ical teacher of
M athem ati cs a wran g l e r o f th e rs t o rder
of brutal m an ne rs and a terro r to those embryo
p h ilosophers wh i ch (o r rather who ) frequent
the backshop o f D av i d B rown T he contrast
betwee n th i s h i rsute pe rso n and the dou bl e
re n e d t ravel l i ng tutor was what M r
E h im
sel f woul d h ave calle d 77m g7z z q u c
I tho ugh t
of th e l ittl e lap do g th e do g o f kno w l ed g e
wh ich I h ad se e n d an c ing i n a ri n g wi th
th e ru gg ed R ussi an bear
Ii s b ie seem s to
h av e som e g ood n atu re a n d as h is van ity
wh ich i s ve ry cons ide rabl e l ies qui te i n a
d i ffe ren t d i rection from o ne s own van i ty
,

'

LE TTERS

192

0F

TH Oxl/ A S

CARL YL E

1818

wh
i
ch
i
n
m
os
t
cases
i
s
also
conside
rab
l
e
h
e
)
(
is I should th i nk rathe r am us i ng th an other
w ise To day I s a w h i m e nter the C ol l ege

yard
and su rely there n eve r l igh ted u po n
th is earth wh ich h e scarcel y s eem ed to touch
I then thought (to
a more beauteous v is ion

conti nue i n the words o f B urke ) that

te n
thousan d swords (sts rather ) would hav e
leapt from th ei r scabbards to av enge even a
l ook that th reatened h i m wi th i nsul t
But
alas ! poo r E s b ie m ust be content h e th i nks
as h e calls i t ;
so m e de vil of a c u ra cy

though h is acquai ntance wi th the rst houses

i n E ngland i s o f th e mos t i n ti mate natu re
I have heard P rofessor J ameso n del i v er two
lectures I am dou btful whethe r I ough t to
atte nd h is class afte r al l H e is o ne o f thos e
perso ns whose u nderstand i ng is over burthened
by th e i r m emo ry D est i tute of accu rate science
without com preh ens io n o f m i nd h e details a
ch aos of facts wh i ch he accou nts for i n a
m an ner as slovenly as h e sel ects an d arranges
them Y esterday h e explai ned th e colou r o f
th e atmosphere upon p ri nciples wh ich argued
,

TO M R

818

RO B ER T

MI T C H

ELL

1 93

a total ignorance of d ioptri cs A k nowled g e o f

the ex ternal character o f m i nera l s is al l I can
1
hope to obtai n from h im
Y o u w ill read ily bel ieve that I have no t
R oscoe s
read m uch s i nce I wrote to yo u
e o
L
en z o o e M e dic i a wo rk con cern i ng
o
r
s
f
wh ich I shal l o nl y observe i n the words o f th e

A u ctionee r that i t i s w e ll wo rth any gen tle

m an s perusal
is th e o nl y th i ng al m ost that I
recollect augh t about I was grieved to read
you r b rief not ice o f you r ill heal th
I do hop e
i t i s re establ ished What says N ewto n ? and
?
G ibbon
H ave you giv e n up a ll thoughts o f
?
th e D i v i n ity H al l
Though there are few
persons o n earth I des i re as m uch to s e e I
do not adv ise you to p rosecute i t F rom th e
.

rofessor J ameso n s re p u t a ti o n w very h ig h a t t h i s t i me

i n E d i n burg h O may lear n w ha t w t hou g h t of h im
from Lockhar t s accou nt i n P t L et ter t h i K im / M (i
w h i ch w ere p ubl i she d i n
T hese L e tt ers gi ve
8 9
a n e n t er t a i ni ng p i c t ure of t he E d i n burg h of t hese years w el l
w o t h co m p ari ng w i t h C arlyle s i n c i de n t al ske t ches
C halmers
ll t he E d i n
J effrey Playfa i r S p h im L esl i e 3 w t
burg h n o t ab i l i ti es a pp ear i n t he l i vely a n d fli pp a nt p ag es o f
t he br i ll i a n t a n d successful m of t he w orld i n d i ffere nt l i g h t s
a n d colours fro m t hose i n w h i ch t h y w ere see n by t he se i ous
lo n ely s t ru gg l i ng s t ude nt
1

a s

ne

a s

e er s

u rz

rc

s c r, -

a n

VO L

LE TTER S

1 94

TII OIII A S

0F

CA RL YLE

8 18

conversatio n wh ic h we had i n the i n n at

B asse nthwai te H alls and el sewhe re I j udge
that you are as u n t as myse l f fo r the study
o f T heo l ogy a s they arrogantly n ame it
Whatever becom es o f us le t us neve r cease
to beh ave l i ke ho nest m en
W he n d id you s e e J oh nstone ? I hope you
o ften m eet to poi nt out when other top ics fai l
th e co ntou r o f that A l pi ne range i n whose u n
forgotten bosom we spen t s ome d ays i n s o
happy a m an ner C ertai nl y h e wil l soon h ear
from m e I i ntended to h a v e w ri tte n h i m long
ago
I m ust have a l ette r from you a s soon as
you r g ood nat ure w ill afford m e that pleas u re
E xcuse the d ul ness o f th is ep istle and its
b rev ity (a m ost u ncom m o n faul t ) both o f
wh ich you w ill charitably i mpute to the proper
cause
I wil l t ry to do b etter anothe r ti m e
B el iev e m e to be my dear fri end you rs
,

fa it t

HY
,

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

TO

818

H IS

X X I X To

h is

V
I O TH E R
'

M OT H E R
1

195

M a in h ill

7 1 % D ecem be r

D E AR IVIO T H E R I expected that the

C arrier wo ul d hav e been here before th is ti me
and that con sequently I s houl d hav e had i t i n
m y powe r to give yo u not i ce o f m y co nd i tio n
wi thout putting you to th e expense of postage
B ut as there is now l ittl e probab il ity of h is
arriv i ng th is week I can no longer del ay to
answe r th e letter wh ich I recei ved from my
F athe r a co ns iderable t i me ago F ew th i n g s
i n the world coul d g i ve m e greater pl easu re
th an to l earn that you are al l i n good heal th
an d that you r affai rs are i n a som ewhat prospe r
ous cond it io n
I t rust they still conti nue s o
T h e boys deserv e m y th an ks fo r the alacri ty
w i th wh ich they explo red the cond i tio n o f that
sam e u n fo rtun ate box I cal l i t u n fortu nate fo r
u p on cal l ing at the p e rso n K ay s i n the G rass
market here I found i t i ll used i n eve ry p arti
c u la r
In the rs t place though th e carriage
MY

A fe w

se nt e n ces from t h i s le tt er are p r i nt ed i n

F ro u de

LE TTERS

1 96

0F

TH O/ll A S

CA RL YLE

18 18

as ap p eared by the m arks upo n the l id had

been paid the poor dog B eck h ad co ntrived to
make K ay (as a P o rte r testied ) pay i t agai n
i nadvertently an d /zo s toutly refused to part
w i th i t u nless h e were re i mbu rsed T h is by
th e way was the reaso n why i t had neve r come
to K i rkcaldy ; all the carriers re fus i ng to take
i t because t hey m ust rs t p ay th e carriage to
E d i nb urgh wh ich was m arked as p ai d al ready
S o the poo r box was left stand i ng for s ix weeks
i n a damp cellar wi thout any o ne to c l ai m i t
I was forced to comply w i th S ignor K ay s re
u is it io n an d upo n pay i ng h i m the 2 s
Io d
q
had m y articl es b rough t hom e at l ast T he
socks t m e wel l and al togethe r are adm i rable
th i ngs T he butter also w a s the re u ndamaged :
bu t th e s h i rts wh i ch you r k i nd ness had in
c i ted you to m ake for m e those sh i rts I was
en raged to nd all spotted and spri nkled with a
black co l ou r wh i ch th e body D av i e here says
i s m o /Zo m a ozo and wh i ch wil l n ever come out
accord i ng to th e sam e authori ty I h ave had
them washed ; but th e black ness remai ns
M u ch of i t i s abou t the b reast and i f i t be
,

HIS

TO

818

zll

O TH E R

1 97

t rue that i t can not be erased I m us t make

n ight sh irts o f th em T h i s can no t be rem edied
and therefore ough t not to b e regretted ; b ut
the creatu re S m ith shoul d re fund h is carriage
m o ney at th e l east I nd l i v i ng here very
h igh A n hou r ago I paid m y week s b ill
wh ich though 1 5 3 2 d was the s mallest o f th e
th ree wh i ch I have yet discharged T h is i s an
u nreasonable s u m when I co ns ider th e sl ender
accom modation an d th e palt ry i ll cooked m or
s e l wh ich i s m y daily p i ttance
Th ere is also
a school maste r right ove r my h ead whose
n oisy b rats g ive m e at ti mes no s mal l annoy
ance O n a give n n i g h t o f the week h e also
assembles a s el ect n umber of vocal p erform ers
whose m u s ic (as they charitabl y name i t ) is now
a nd the n s o clamorous that (when study i ng a
M athemati cal theo rem ) I al most w ished th e
th roats o f these s wee t s i n g e rs ful l o f m ol ten
l ead o r any othe r s ubstance wh i ch m ight s top
thei r b ray i n g fo r th e t i me Y e t nei ther can th is
be avo ided
I was th rou g h abou t fi fty rooms
th e othe r day onl y o n e was o ffe red chea p e r
and that greatl y i n fe rio r s o I shall be cont e n t
,

LE TTERS O F

1 98

CA RL YLE

TH Oz l/ A S

818

t il l the s p ri ng T here is noth i ng very tragical

i n al l th i s : yet i t is th e wo rst s ide o f th e p i cture
I ough t not to forget that I am m ore heal th y
th an I h ave bee n th is twelvemonth
I h av e
plenty o f t i me to read an d am not dest itute o f
good society that of I rv i ng J ames B rown a
truly g ood lad who was at M a in h ill o nce
F rancis D ixon etc A lso I have f/z roo o u rs

o f p ri vate teach i ng a t two gu i neas a m onth

for each hou r T he rs t two hou rs I got th ree
weeks ago A yo ung m an had been d i rected
to I rv i ng to get lesso ns i n A stronomy I rv i ng
not nd i ng i t conv en i en t to supp l y h i m sen t
h i m to m e : and I e n g aged i m m ed iatel y H i s
nam e i s R obertso n h e is an o f ce r i n th e E ast
I nd ia C om p any and I nd h i m a pleasan t youth
I am o nly sorry that h e must leav e th i s place
i n a short t im e and thus cu t off m y salary
T he other hou r wh ich I u ndertook ten days
ago is devoted to teach G eometry to an o l d
E n gl is h (or J ersey ) gentleman cal led S aumarez
who asked I rv i ng o ne day i n the N atu ral H is
tory clas s w h i ch I also atte nd i f he cou l d re
co m m en d a mathem at ical teache r and was
.

8 18

TO

HIS

O THER

[M

1 99

i m m ed iately i ntroduced to m e H e i s a most

amus i ng creatu re and the space between 8 a nd
n o l ess
o
clock
wh
ich
I
dail
y
spend
w
i
th
h
i
m
9
than th e argumen ts we hav e to g ethe r i n th e
class abou t N ewto n and natu ral ph iloso p hy is
o fte n th e most d ive rti ng of the day H e l ives
at th e north en d o f the N ew To wn abov e a m ile
from th is p l ace ; an d th is wal k for m e before
break fas t (wh ich is o f porridge ) i s anothe r a d
R ob ertson l i ves w i th h is moth er
vanta g e
m uch i n the sam e quarter I go th i ther b e
twee n te n and twel ve o clock T he n comes a
wal k with B rown o r D ixon o r else a bout at
read i n g til l two ; next the N atu ral H istory class
t ill th ree ; the n d i n ne r o f s h o r mutto n and
roots ; and read i n g til l m id night T h i s is a
p ictu re o f m y l i fe ; an d notw ithstand i ng a fai r
p ro p o rtio n of antici patio ns and fo rebod i ngs I
am no t at al l u ncom fo rtable
I saw P ro fesso r L esl ie twice o r th rice
s i nce I w rote to you
H e requested m e to
attem p t a m os t d i f cul t p roblem wh ich he was
g o in g to p u t i n to a book that he i s p ubl ish i n g
H e had not t im e fo r i t h imsel f I wrou g h t at
.

LE TTERS

z oo

CA RL YLE

TH O/W A S

18 18

i t for a week ; and notwithstand i ng sev eral

advances coul d not do i t
T he day before
yesterday h e adv ised m e to l et i t alone a wh ile
wh ich I was will i ng to do and the n to try i t
agai n wh ich I al so i ntend to do
U po n the

whole sai d th is cu rious ph i l osoph er

I see
noth i ng s o el igible fo r you as to learn th e
engi neer bus i ness ; and then go t o A m e rica
G reat busi ness the re S wiss gen tleman wen t
l ate l y m ak i n g a large fortu ne m any brid g es
and canals I m ust hav e you i ntroduced to
J ard i ne
T h is J ard i n e i s an engi neer o f th is
c ity ; and cam e from M illh o u s e b ridge near
L och m abe n report s ays h e is a concei ted d is
agreeable person
Y ou w ill start m y dear
M other at th e sou nd o f A m erica I too h ad
m uch rather l ive i n m y o wn cou ntry ; and l ay
m y bo nes i n the so i l wh ich covers those of m y
F ath ers N or do I despai r of getti ng a com
fo rt a b le s ituat io n fo r the exercise of my ta l ents
som ewhere wi th i n th is s e a gi rt isle
On
M o nday I rece iv ed a letter from M r D u ncan
of Ruthwell co ntai n ing th ree notes o f i ntro
du cti on o ne to a certai n B ail ie Waugh a
,

1818

HIS

TO

/ O TH E R
[IL

20 1

bookseller of th is place who wi shes to empl oy

m e as a wri ter i n som e R oz/ {c w wh ich he is about
to com m ence I had h al f an hou r s pl easan t
chat w ith th is B ail ie l eft m y ad dress wi th h im
and went o n m y way Wh at th e u pshot may
be I can not guess A secon d letter I del i vered
to D r B rewster E d ito r o f the E dz n m g/z
E n cyc lop xcz z a
H e rece i ved m e k i ndly took
m y ad dress tal ked with m e a wh i le o n sev eral
subj ects an d l et m e go T he ki nd m i n ister of
R uthwell had I u nderstand writte n about getti ng
m e to wri te i n th e E n cy c lop x a z a the D octo r
said noth i ng o n that head N o m atter T he
th i rd l ette r i s to
A H ende rso n E s q A dv o
cate wh i ch I h av e no t yet d el ivered P erhaps
he wi ll i nfo rm m e abou t the l awye r b us i ness
T h is l aw I som etim es th i nk is what I was in
tended fo r natu ral ly
I am afrai d i t takes
several h und reds to becom e an A dvocate B ut
fo r t/z z s I shoul d com m en ce the study o f i t wi th
great ho p es o f success W e shall s e e whethe r
i t i s p ossi bl e O n e o f th e rst advocates o f t he

'

'

B re s t er had u n de t ake n t he
w

in

I8O8

t he

k wa s

\m r

of t h E di
n o t co m p le t ed ti ll

c dit o rs h ip

gh

n bu r

8 30

LE TTER S O F

2 02

CA RL YL E

TH O/ll A S

1818

day Forsyth raised h i m sel f fro m bei ng a d is

co nsolate P reach er to h i s presen t e m i nen ce
T herefo re I e ntreat you m y M other no t to
be any way u neasy abou t m e I s e e no ne o f
m y fellows w ith whom I am very anx ious to
ch a n ge places T hey are mostl y olde r than I
by several years and have as d i m prospects
g eneral ly as need be T ell th e boys to roa d
and not to l et thei r hearts be troubled fo r m e
T el l th em I am a stubborn dog and evi l for
tu ne sh all not b reak my heart or bend i t
c zZ
I m us t wri te to the m and
/z o r as I hope
to my Father befo re lon g
I know not how to speak about th e wash i ng
wh ich you offer so k i nd l y S u rely you thought
ve years a go that t/z z s troublesom e wash i ng
an d bak i ng was all ove r ; and o w to re c o m
mence ! I can scarcely th i n k o f t roubl i ng you
Y et th e clothes are ill wash ed h ere an d i f the
box be go i ng and com i ng anyway perhaps
you coul d manage i t
,

'

B ut my pape r is do ne I add onl y that wi th

a heartfel t w ish fo r the ha pp i ness of you all I
.

819

T O AI R

remai n

7 A M ES yOH N S T ON E

my dear M other

2 03

you r affectio nate

'

oa z rn

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

PS

I know not whether

m ent ioned that

M r M arti n the m i n ister o f K i rkcaldy of h i s
own acco rd gav e m e at m y departure a m ost
consolatory c e rt i c a t e full o f encom iums upo n
tal ents morals etc wh ich grat ied m e not a
l i ttl e
H e was al ways k i nd to m e
Th e
favou rabl e op in io n of such a m an i s worth the
adv erse votes of many ignoran t persons T he
poo r people o f K i rkcal dy are
0 7 I h ear for
1
a do m i n ie
C harles M el v il l e was here u po n
the scen t l ately T here are m any good m en
am on g st them I wish they had a righ t school
.

X X X T o M r J A M E s J O H NS T O N E
.

E D I N BURG H
MY

ja m m ry

8 19

D E A R jO Il N S T O N I:
I am g rieved to
Th R
M M ar ti n s house had bee n hos pi t abl y o p e n
t o I rv i ng a n d C a lyle w h i le t hey w ere l i v i n g a t K i rkcaldy a n d
l i g aft er w ard m arr i ed h i s eldes t dau g h t er
T h m i n i s t er
w
a clear m i n ded bro t herly
ll i n t e nt i o n ed ma n
i 7
1

ev

rv n

a s

l 1

u e

LE TTERS O F

2 04

CA RL YLE

TH O/l/ A S

8 19

you r emb ryo resolutio n of goi ng to A merica

I t i s al ways a mou rn ful th i ng to leave ou r
cou ntry ; to a m an of sensi b il i ty and re flection
i t i s d readful I speak not o f that feel i ng wh ich
must freeze the soul of an em igrant when land
i ng o n the quay of B osto n or N ew Y ork he
re flects that the w ide A tlant ic is roari ng b e
tween h i m and every heart that cares for h is
fate B u t to s nap asu nder fo r ove r the asso
to for
c ia t io n s that b i nd us to ou r nat ive so il
get the H a m p de n s the S yd neys the L ockes
the S tewarts the B u rn s e s o r to remember
them only as m e n o f a fore ign land to change
ou r ideas o f hu man excellen ce ; to have ou r
pri nciples ou r prej ud ices supplanted ; to e ndu re
the rubs wh ich hard u nk i ndness w ill h ave i n
store for us ; to th row as ide old friendsh ips and
wi th a seared heart to seek for new ones al l
th i s i s terrible A nd after al l what would you
do there
To teach i s m ise ry i n the old wor l d
or the new : and perha p s (i f i t m u st be s o )
E nglan d i s as fai r a eld for i t a s the U n ion
I entreat you m y dear frie nd to lay as ide th is
enterprise a t least for the present I look

se e

TO M R

1819

7 A M ES yOH N S T ON E

205

u p o n em igrat ion as a fearful desti ny N ot

more fearful I grant than others that m igh t
be i magi ned ; than such failure for i nstance
a s m igh t call forth the p i ty o f those who love
us (I was about to add and the t ri um ph o f
those who h ate us but i t is a pal try sentim ent
to care for t/z cz t if i t ex ists w ith i n m e I would
wish to h ide i t both from you and m ysel f ) but
thank H eave n th ings are not yet com e to th is
C o ns ide r the talents you possess the class ical
scienti c h isto rical above al l the agri cu l tural
k nowledge wh ich you h ave acqu i red ; look
arou nd you ; co nti nue to improve you r m i nd i n
patience and do not ye t im agi ne that i n ou r
ow n cou ntry the gates o f pre fermen t are shu t
agai nst you
I t will give satisfactio n to me
and p erhaps som e rel ief to you r own m i nd to
h ave you r s i tuatio n and v iews d isti nctl y ex
plai ned i n you r next lette r W ri te to m e w ith
ou t reserve as to o ne who can be i nd i ffere nt
to noth i ng wh ich con ce rns you
It is su p er f
luous to s a y that I h ave b id fare
wel l to F i fe M y resol ut io n was take n w i thou t
adv i ce because none w a s to be had ; bu t not
,

LE TTER S O F

2 06

TH O/W A S

CA RL YLE

8 19

w ithout long and seriou s m ed itation

I coul d
not leave K i rkcaldy but w ith re g ret T he re
are i n i t many perso ns of a respectable seve ral
of an exem p lary character ; and had the t ie
wh ich u n ited us bee n of a less i rri tati ng nature
my t i m e m igh t have been s p ent very happ ily
among them A t prese nt m y prospects are as
d im and m y feel i ngs of course nearly as u n
com fortab l e as they have bee n at any period
of m y l i fe A bou t the e nd of 1 8 1 6 I remembe r
i n fo rm i ng you that i n the S pace o f two years
m y v iews of human l i fe had cons iderably
al tered A s i m ilar period has agai n e l apsed
and b rought wi th i t a c hange less marked
i ndeed bu t not l ess re a l T ill not very long
ago I i magi ned my whole duty to cons ist i n
th i nk i ng and e ndeavouri ng I t now appears
that I ough t not onl y to su ffer bu t to act C on
n e c t e d w ith m ank i nd by sym p ath i es and wants
wh ich experie nce never ceases to reveal I now
begi n to p erce ive that i t is i mposs ible to attai n
the sol itary hap p i ness o f the S to ic and hurtful
i f i t were poss ible
H o w far the creed o f
.

R ic /z

m ! dz m z zz zzc r la
'

no

'

sa

ti sfa c ti o n q u

wo n :

819

TO

Il R

R O B ER T

II I T CH E L L

2 07

E pictetus may requ i re to be m odied i t i s not

,

easy to determ i ne ; that i t is defect ive seem s

p retty ev ide nt
I qu i t the stubborn dogma
wi th a regret heightened al most to remorse ;
and feel i t to be a des i re rather than a duty to
m i ngl e i n th e busy cu rren t wh ich i s ow i ng
past me and to act my part before the not
d istant day arri ve whe n they who seek me
W /z o t p art I shal l act is
shal l not nd me
still a mystery
Y ou r fai th ful frie nd
T H O MA S CAR LYLE
,

PS I

forgot to say (what was i ndeed O f

no consequence ) that I spe nt alo ng w i th I rv i ng
the C h ristmas hol idays i n F i fe
T hey were
th e ha p p iest fo r m any reasons wh ich I can not
at th is ti m e ex p lai n that for a lo ng space have
marked th e teno r o f m y l i fe
.

X X X I To M r
.

M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M

E I NBURGH
D

MY
({e n o u s -21 1

5 1/z o or/t o ry

a n se

8 19

D E A R F R I E N D A l thou g h well aware o f

8m m , q u

[a m ps cc q u

de

'

vo zr

qu

n ou s

rn /m z o / z r do :

cl/ s a

'

e n ou s o

bu t fa i t hful observa t i o n of L

/xro u vo m

w i re ,

Ro c h e fo u c a

u lt

(la / z:

71 2:

i s t he u np leasa n t
C

2 08

LE TTERS O F

TH Oi ll / IS

CA RL YLE

18 19

th e propens i ty w h i ch exis ts i n m en to speak

m o re about them sel ves than others care fo r
heari ng yet as you have h itherto bee n th e
participato r o f al l m y s chem es I v enture to
sol ici t you r forbearance and ad vi ce at a t im e
wh en I need th em as m uch perhaps as I have
ev er done
M y s i tuation m ay b e bri e fly expl ai ned A l l
the p l ans th at I h av e formed for s ucceedi ng i n
any p rofess io n h ave i nvol ved the i dea o f s u b
s ist i ng ln th e i nteri m by wri ti ng ; and every
p roj ect of th is k i n d wh ich I have dev ised up
to the p resent date h a s bee n frustrated by m y
i n ab il i ty to pro cu re books ei th er fo r cri ti cis ing
o r consu l ti ng I h ave i t IS t rue th e p ri v i l ege
o f appeari ng o n the fl oo r of th e C ollege l ibrary
to a d: for any book to wai t abo ut an h ou r
an d the n to nd it not i n
B ut th i s i s o f
s mal l advan tage M y priv ate teach i ng cam e
to an en d about a m on th a g o and at th is t i me
except a sm al l degree o f atte nt io n wh ich I pay
to th e shadow rather than to the substance o f
M i neralo g y fo r wh ich sc ience i t i s perhaps
l ess s ur p risi ng than u nl ucky that m y u nsettled
,

T O AI R

18 19

RO B ER T

[MI

TCHELL

20

cond i tio n an d m y i nd i fferen t s tate o f h eal th

h ave left m e l i ttl e e nthus ias m ; excepti ng also
a sl ight t i ncture o f th e German l anguage wh ich
I am recei vi ng from o n e R ob t jard i ne o f
G ott i ngen (o r rather A pplegarth ) i n retu rn fo r
an equal ly S l i g h t t i ncture of the F rench wh ich
I com m un icate there i s no stated duty wh at
ever fo r m e to p erfo rm T he sou rce o f that
co ns iderabl e qu anti ty o f com fort wh ich I enj oy
i n these c i rcumstances i s twofold F i rst there
i s th e hope o f bette r days wh i ch I am not yet
old and wo rn e nough to hav e qu ite l aid as i de
T h is cheerful feel ing i s co mb i ned wi th a po rtio n
o f the u n iv ersal qual i ty wh ich we o u rs el ves
nam e rm ness oth ers obst i nacy ; the qual i ty
wh ich I suppose to be th e ful crum o f al l S toical
ph ilosophy and wh i ch whe n the charm er
H o p e has u tterl y fo rsake n us m ay afford a grim
s u pp o rt i n the ex trem e o f wretchedness B ut
th ere are othe r emot ions wh ich at t imes arise
wh en i n m y sol itary wal ks rou nd th e M eadows
o r C al to n I l ill my m i nd esca p es from the smoke
a nd tarn ish o f th ose u n fo rtunate p e rsons wi th
who m i t i s too m uch m y fo rtun e to associate
.

v0 1

I
.

LE TTERS

2 10

0F

THO M A S CARL YLE

18 19

e motions wh ich i f less ee ti n g m igh t cons ti tute

a p ri ncipl e o f actio n at o nce rat io nal and powe r
ful
I t i s d i f cul t to speak upo n these subj ects
wi thou t bei ng ri d iculous if not hypocri t ical
B es i des the p ri nc ipl es to wh ich I all ude be i ng
l i ttl e el se th an a m ore i n tense perceptio n o f
ce rtai n t ruths u n i versal l y acknowled g ed to
t ransl ate them i n to l anguage woul d degrade
them to th e ran k of tru isms T he refo re u n wil l
I t i s probabl e
in gly I leave you to conj ecture
howev er that you r good natu red i magi natio n
m igh t l ead you to overrate m y resou rces i f I
n eglected to i n form you th at o n th e whol e m y
m i n d i s far from ph ilosoph i cal composu re T he
v i ciss i tudes o f ou r op i n io ns do not h appen wi th
th e ce l eri ty o r d ist i n ct ness o f an astro nom ical
phenome no n : bu t i t is ev ident that m y m i nd
at th e present is u nde rgo i ng s u nd ry alte rat ions
W he n I rev iew m y p ast co nduct i t seem s to
hav e bee n gu i ded by narrow and de fect i v e
v i ews and (wo rst of al l ) by lu rk i ng deepl y
l u rki n g affectatio n
I coul d h av e defe nded
these v i ews by the m ost p aramo u nt l ogi c : b u t
what logi c can withstan d E x p erien ce
This is
,

T O AI R

1819

R O B ER T

IIII T C II E L L

211

not the rs t and i f I l ive long i t wi ll not b e

t he l ast o f m y revol utio ns T hus 06 12M m m cz
an d
s zq c m c m t z m o a m erro r s ucceeds to error
thus wh il e I seek a rul e of l i fe l i fe i tsel f i s
fast y i ng away
A t th e l ast perh aps my
c reed m ay be fou nd to resembl e too nearly the
m em orabl e T ris t ra p e dia o f Wal ter S handy of
wh i ch th e m i n ute an d i nd ub itabl e d i rections
fo r T ri stram s baby clothes were n ish ed wh e n
T ristram was i n b reeches
B ut I fo rget th e aphorism w i th wh ich I
began m y l ette r H ere at least l et m e co n cl ud e
th is l on g w i nded accou nt o f m y affai rs ; an d
reques t from yo u as part i cular an accou n t o f
you r own \Ve can not hel p o ne anothe r m y
fri end but m utual adv ice and e ncou ragem en t
m ay easi ly be giv e n and than kful l y rece ived
W il l yo u g o to L i verpool o r B ri stol o r any
wh i th e r and i nsti tute a cl ass ico mathem atical
A cademy
o r what say y ou to that asyl u m o r
rathe r h id i n g p lace fo r p o verty and d isco n ten t
?
A m eri ca
T o be fab ricati n g lock N o 8 among
the p asses o f the A lle g h any !
S ome n i g h ts a g o by th e k i nd ness o f D r
,

LE TTE R S

2 12

OI" Tl / (DIT/ IS

CA RL YLE

18 19

B rewste r l was present at a m eeti ng o f the

R oyal S oc iety
I t is pleasan t to s e e pe rso ns
me t to g eth er when the i r obj ect eve n p rofesses
to b e the pursu i t o f k nowledge B ut i f any o ne
shoul d ex p ect to n d i n G eorge S tree t an
i mage o f the rst R oyal S oc iety whe n N ewton
was i n the ch ai r an d H alley at th e tabl e h e
can not (u nless h is fancy b e th e s tronge r ) fai l of
d isap p o i ntm en t H e wi ll nd i ndeed a num be r
o f cl ean wel l d ressed (som e o f them abl e bod ied )
m en : bu t i n pl ace of wit nessi ng th e i nven tio n
o f u xio n s o r the d iscovery of grav i tation h e
m ay chance to l earn th e d i me ns ions o f a foss i l
st ick o r hear i t deci ded that a certain l i ttle
c rumb of sto ne i s neither to b e called m es olyp c
no r st z Zoz tc T h is (a c rit ic woul d s a y) has v ery
m uch th e look of dri vell i ng B ut p a u ca vc rocz
D r B i s sai d to be al mos t th e o nl y ef ci e n t
m ember o f th is p h iloso p h i cal gu ild
I m ay
m ent io n (though th is h as noth i ng earthly to do
w ith i t ) th at I have see n th e D octo r twice s i nce
m y rst v is i t ; th at I h av e m et with a k i nd
reception an d foun d i nstructio n as well as
en te rtai nm e nt i n h is conv ers atio n
,

'

819

II/I R

TO

R O B ER T

I I T CH E L L

2 13

I n con form ity w i th anc ien t custom I ough t

now to transm i t you som e o f m y stud ies B ut
I h av e too m uch co nsc ience to d ilate upo n th is
s ubj ect B es ides i t is not so easy to cri ti cise the
b rill ian t work o f M adame de S ta el Co m z a e ra
Zz oi zs s zcr q u e /om : E o en e m e i z s do [a R evo lu t io n
as to tel l you wh at I learn t fro m a smal l Gene
vese attendi ng jameso n s class that S he was
v ery ugl y and very i m moral yet had ne eyes
and was ve ry k i n d to the p oor peo p le of C oppe t
and the e nv i ro ns B u t s h e i s gone ; and with
al l her faul ts s h e possessed the l ofties t sou l of
any fem ale o f her t im e
U po n the sam e
autho ri ty I i n fo rm yo u that H o race B e ned ict
S aussu re (whose beau ti ful Voy a ges da m [e5
A l e: I h ave not yet n i shed ) d ied twenty
years ago ; bu t T heodo re h i s s o n is st il l
l i vi n g M o reove r S ismond i (anothe r m embe r
o f th e G en eva A cademy ) i s w e fe l l? Lo m m e
m o i:
vie w s
of
[
res
I
read
B
ailly
s
t if
f
M e m o z re s (l zm Tel/l o in do [a
wi th
l i ttle com fo rt
T h e book is not il l wri tten
b ut i t g rieved m e to s e e th e au g ust h isto rian
O f astro nom y
th e i ntimate o f K e p le r G al ileo
,

'

'

'

LE TTERS O F

2 14

TH OI IIA S

CA RL YLE

18 19

and N ewton th rown i nto tumul t raptu red or

alarmed at th e app robatio n o r the blam e o f
Paris ian tradesmen not to speak of th e

as
he
fondly
names
the
o zi o rie rs
a zw res
p
dogs cz zi fa u oo u rg S t A n to i n e W ith regard
to M i neralogy the m ax i m of C o rpo ral N ym
is agai n app l icable
Peace be to B rochant

the illustrious Werner !

It
B ro n gn ia rt and

i s a mou rn ful study and th e T eacher

a
col d long w i nde d nat iv e of th e deep
Do
you w ish to k now the i mportant fact that the
sto ne wh ich I b rought from H el v el l y n is feld
spar po rphy ry ? S k iddaw is o f TEo n smiefe r
c
l
ay
sch
istus
and
I

rml
y
be
l
i
eve
that
the
;
(
)
othe r rocks o f that wild cou ntry hav e names
equally beaut i fu l and descript iv e
O f thei r
E
71
rz ie s I am forb id to k no w anyth i ng
r
o
e
p p

T h e external characters
o e zcz o n [a
c a u se ?
are reckoned enough i n the school o f F reyberg
U pon a cool comparison of dates I nd that
i f I carry th is letter to the post o f c e to n ight
you m ay have i t o n M onday T he th i ng is
the n resol ved upon B ut i t ve rges upo n m id
n ight ; and it is h igh t im e to co nclude the
,

F R OI

819

FA THE R

H IS

2 15

useless labours of th e day o n wh ich I hav e

wal ked to D alke ith fo r the pu rpose o f exercise

heard a heart ren di ng sermo n and h av e
stud ied th e m oo n s erect io n i n L a /cm cz e
n ot
?
am
I
to
hope
fo
r
an
nswe
r
I t m ay
P
a
V/i e n
be short or l ong it w ill not fail to com fort th e
soul o f my dear M itchell you r faith ful friend
T H O MA S CAR LYLE
,

X X X I I F ro m
.

h is F A T H E R

M A 1N H 1 LL,

F e orzi a ry

8 19

D E AR S O N W e rece iv ed the box wi th you r

l etters i n i t wh ic h we were very gl ad to s e e
and yo u sai d i t was a long t i me s i nce you h ad
a l etter from you r M oth er o r m e as S andy has
been m uch engaged th is week and th e w a fe r
d i d not g e t h is cart hom e t ill M onday and
S andy s e t out fo r D um fries Fai r o n T uesday
m o rn i ng an d d i d no t com e h om e ti ll T h u rsd ay
n i g h t an d o n F riday n i g h t he was at the
l i brary as the i r B ooks was come hom e and he
g ot (Izzy J l/ m z zzc r ii i g for th e rst an d we th i nk
i n t im e the re will be a good l ib rary ; howeve r
T h carr i er s n i ck n a m e
l
I o i t erer
h iff
,

e r,

LE T TER S O F

2 16

CARL YLE

T/ l t h ll A S

8 19

that may be I thought I woul d send you a

scrawl
I hav e noth ing to wri te yo u wo rth
read ing but I thou g h t yo u woul d be dis a p
p oi nted if you got the box and n o l etter i n i t
bu t I can s a y we are a ll i n good heal th at
prese nt
Y ou r M other i s hearty and bak i ng
you two o r th ree cakes and sorti ng you r S h i rts
a nd stock i ngs and i n S hort we are very com
fo rt a b le hav i ng pl enty o f m eal an d p otatoes
We h ave a good deal of corn th i s year m o re
than we had last year and I th i n k we will can
pay th e R e n t th is y ear at any t i m e we th i n k
proper W e are wel l forward w i th p l ough i ng
as th ere h as bee n very l ittle frost to stop th e
Ploughs th is wi n ter
I m ust have done
bu t not w i thout tell i ng yo u that th e l i ttl e
L ass ies are al l run n i ng abou t and J am ie an d
J oh n are a good deal b i gger s i nce yo u s a w
them and S andy an d you r M other agree v ery
wel l now though we have m any argum en ts
about R el igio n bu t no ne i n i ll nature ; but I
add no m ore bu t all th e fam ily s k i nd respects to
you and I remai n dear S on your affectionate
and lov i n Fathe r
J A S CAR LYLE
,

1819

CARL YLE

T O A LE X A A D E R

A LE XA N D E R C AR LYL E

X X X I I I To
.

E D IN BURG H
(M rs

M a in h ill

3 d F e orzm ry

1 5 C
,

S co tt s

M Y D E AR B R O T H E R I

2 17

ar n e gi e S t ree t )
.

s it

down to w ri te
a lette r to yo u a t th is l ate hou r o f the n ight
i n order to i n fo rm you o f som e s teps wh i ch I
hav e taken s i nce you l ast h eard from m e T he
uncom fortableness o f th e p erso n D av ie s lo dg
i ng has bee n freque ntly alluded to i n ou r co r
respo nde nce V erm i n of v arious sorts wh ich
hau nted th e beds o f that u n fortunate woman
to g ethe r wi th slut tish ness and a ly i n g th ievish
d is p os it ion wi th w h i ch s h e was a fic t e d a t
l ength becam e i ntol erabl e and o n Wed nesday
I tol d th e c reatu re that h er ti cket b o a rc (fatal
s i g nal I) m us t o nce m o re be hoisted in plai n
words that I was abou t to fo rsak e he r house
enti rel y S he rece i ved th e news wi th cons ider
able dud g eo n ; but as m y wo rds to her were
cal m and few as w el l as em p hati c sh e m ade n o
rem onst rance To sec u re a nothe r roo m was
,

h i s L ife

br i ef ex t rac t f om t h i s l e tt er i s
1

gixc n

by

M r lro u de
.

in

LE TTERS O F THO [MA S CA RL YLE

2 18

8 19

my nex t care J oh n Fo rrest s place wh ich h as

few recom me ndat io ns except th e excelle nt de
m e a n o u r of M rs F
was e nga g ed I fou nd till
th e begi n n i ng o f A pri l O f the other places
at wh ich I called som e we re d i rty oth ers dear
others h ad a susp ic ious look ; no ne were su i t
abl e I n short no t to t roubl e you w i th the
detai l o f these p iti ful affai rs I saw no bette r
pl an than to propose a j u nct io n w i th on e H ill
B o s ide fro m
a
N
eph
ew
o
f
M
rs
I
rv
i
ng
s
g
(
Panteth H ill M ouswald ) who i s here study i ng
law H e is a harml es s k i n d o f youth and
had a c l ean l andlad y w ho kep t two room s wi th
a b ed i n each wh ich w e coul d get for 8 s per
week M y p rO p o s a l was i m m ed iat e l y accepted
of and I rem oved h i ther yesterday (M o nday )
ev en i ng T h is com radesh i p i s not altogether
to m y l ik i ng as I fear i t m ay e ncu mb er my
researches but whe n I co n s ide r th e sav i ng of
pe
r
week
not
to
s
p
eak
o
f
that
wh
ich
s
6
d
3
(
arises fro m i w o eati ng to g ether) as well as the
neatness and com fort wh ic h seem s to pervade
th is pl ace I am i nduced to pu t up wi th the
other i nco nven i ences t ill A p ril when I m ay
.

1819

ALEXA ND ER CA RL YL E

TO

2 19

take Forres t s room o r h ave a choi ce o f others

B es ides w e st ipul ated to have a re i n each
room when we l iked at n i g ht s o that I can
reti re to th is s mal l cham ber wh e n ever I have
anyth ing part icul ar to i nvestigate T he cham
ber to s a y t ruth i s not many s quare feet i n
exte nt yet i t w il l d o excel le ntl y well fo r the
short seaso n du ri ng wh i ch I sh al l occupy it
F /itt iizg is an operatio n wh ich has o f l ate years
becom e very i rksom e to m e ; so you are not to
expect th at i n th i s l ette r I can give you a ny
v ery i n teresti ng remarks : forasmuch as I have
eve n no w scarcel y e nded the arrangem en t o f
m y goods I write p ri ncipall y to send you m y
add ress and to reques t an answe r fro m som e of
you
I k no w i t wil l please yo u al l to h ear that m y
h eal th i s g ood W he neve r the m orn i ng i s fai r
I wal k befo re b reak fast an d afte r n ish i n g the
G e rman at el eve n o clock I g ene rall y st roll fo r
an hou r o r so abou t the e nv i rons o f th is ci ty
a p ract ice wh ich I k no w wel l i s the onl y p lan
fo r secu ri n g v i g o rous heal th T he re i s a youn g
m an Fe rg uso n (a cous i n o f the C el t M aclaren
.

OI" TH O/IIA S

LE TTERS

2 20

CA RL YLE

18 19

wh om you d i ned w i th at D ys art ) form erly

I rv i n g s ass i stan t at K irkcaldy wh o bei ng
d isengag ed at that hou r i s as glad as I to
escape from th e s in and s e a
coal of E d i nbu rgh
and ofte n accom pan ies m e H e i s a sens ible
pleasan t m an th ree o r fou r years O lde r than
m ysel f O n T uesday l as t wh e n he an d I we re
retu rn i ng i nto the town from ou r excu rs ion we
m et D r B rewste r i n company w ith two m e n o f
note T he D octo r s to p ped to tel l m e that h e
h ad got a paper o n C hem is try wri tten (i n F rench )
by B erzel ius p rofessor of that sc ience at S tock
hol m wh i ch was to be p ubl ished i n A pri l :
?
woul d I t ran sl ate i t
I ans we red i n the a f r
m a t iv e ; an d nex t day went over to get the
pape r i n question
I t cons ists of S ix long sh eets
writte n i n a cram p hand and i n a very d i ffuse
s tyle I hav e i t mo re th an h al f do ne T h e
l abou r o f w ri ti ng i t down is t h e p ri ncipal one
I n other respects th ere i s no d i f culty
I
do not expect great rem un erat io n for th is th i ng ;
but as I am anx ious to do i t p retty well i t i nter
ru
B
e
fore
I
began
t
s m y othe r pu rsu i ts a l i ttle
p
1

v i l lag e n ear K i rkcal d y

now

almos t jo i n e d t o i t

CA RL YLE

T O A L E X A IVD E R

819

o
t

i t I was busied i n p repari ng to wri te about

som e othe r th i ng ; b ut what w ill be the u p shot
o f i t I can not say I tel l yo u al l these th i n g s
because I k now th at noth i ng wh ich concerns
m e i s m atter of i nd i fference to you
A bout a wee k ago I very bri e y d iscussed
an /zo zcr o f priv ate teach i ng A m an i n the
N e w Town appl ied to o ne N icol publ i c teacher
o f M athem atics here fo r a person to gi ve in
s t ru ctio n i n A rith m et ic o r som eth i ng o f th at
so rt N i col spoke o f w e and I was i n c o n s e
d
i
rected
to
cal
l
upon
th
e
man
n
ext
u e nce
q
m o rn i ng I wen t at t he appo i n ted hou r and
afte r wai ti ng a few m i nutes was m et by a stout
i m pudent look i ng man w i th red wh iske rs
hav i n g ve ry m uc h the ai r o f an atto rney o r
some c reatu re o f that so rt A s ou r co n ve rsa
t io n may gi ve you so me i ns igh t i nto these

m atters I repo rt th e substance o f i t

I am
he re I sai d afte r m ak i n g a sl i g h t bow wh ic h
was j ust p ercepti bly re tu rned
by the reques t
o f M r N icol to s p eak wi th you s ir abou t a
m athemat ical teache r whom he tel ls m e you

want
A ye \Vha t are you r te rms
T wo
,

LE TTER S O F

2 22

CA RL YLE

TlfO l/ A S
i

819

g u i neas a m o nth fo r each hou r

Tw o gu in ea s N
fo r pri vate te a c/z izzg that i s perfectl y e xt ra v a

gan t !
I e /ie o e i t to be th e rate at wh ich
every teacher o f respectab il ity i n E d i nbu rgh
c ia t e s ; an d I Loz o zo i t to b e th e rate belo w
of
wh i ch I n ever o f c ia t e
T/i cz z wo n t do fo r

I am sorry th at noth i ng l ess w i ll

my fri end
do for m e G ood m orn i ng
A n d I reti red
w ith co ns iderabl e del ibe rat io n T h e t i m e h as
been whe n I shoul d h ave v apou red not a l ittl e
at be i ng s o caval ierl y t reated by a wretch ed
perso n o f th is desc ript ion B ut i t i s a l tered
n ow I re ected o nl y t hat th is m an wanted
a
nd
th
at
was
natu
ral
to
h
ave
h
i
s
bu
s
i
ness
don
e
)
(
cheap ; an d t hat h is i ll breed i ng was h is m is
fo rtu ne perhaps as m uch as cri m e A day m ay
com e whe n I shal l look back upo n t hese th i ngs
wi th a sm ile if that day s houl d n eve r come
th e m ax i m o f th e p oet i s not m ore t ri te t han
true
H n u r a d Sh am e fr o m o c o n d i t i o n r i s e ;
t
t
/
ll
A t zc /[ yo
x
a
t h e h o n o u r li es
p
.

u r

ie

z ere

or

T h i s wo rl d m y boy i s bu t a gh t at best
an d thou g h th e battle go agai nst u s yet h e
,

819

F R O/II

A ND SIS TER

[ITO TH E R

H IS

20 0
l

who qu its h i m l ike a m an i s an obj ect upon

wh ich (as an old ph ilosopher h as wri tte n )
su p erio r n atu res del igh t to look
L as t week I received an um b rella wh ich I h ad
left i n F i fe and a k i nd l etter fro m M r S wan
I f ever I com e to anyth i ng t /z o i is o ne person
whom I sh al l rem em be r
.

Tel l m e how F ather M other an d al l the

rest o f you are doi ng G i ve my ki ndest lov e
to al l abou t th e house an d bel i ev e m e to be
m y dear B rothe r you rs faith fully
,

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

MO I II
M A R G AR E T

F ro m h is

X X X IV

'

E R

and

h is S

it r
s e

M A IN H I LL,

25

m Al a n ];

18 19

D E AR T O M It i s a l on g t im e S i nce I wrote
you a s i ngl e l i ne and I am bl un de ri n g al ready
I am very d es i rous to know how you a re
as
com i ng o n T el l m e al l abou t i t D o you s i t
?
late
D o you read a C ha p te r o r two eve ry
n igh t
I ho p e you d o and p ray fo r a bless i ng
,

LE TTER S O F

2 24

TH Oz l/ A S

CA RL YLE

18 19

o n all you r u ndertak i n g s O seek wh i le you

h ave t im e to k now H i m whom to k now i s l i fe
eternal ou r ti me is S ho rt and also u ncertai n I
am sorry to i n fo rm you that m y s is te r M ary
d ied l ast S abbath n i g h t We m u st al l follow
i n a l ittle and O that w e were w is e to th i nk o n
ou r l atter end
I beg T om you do not s it l ate
to i nj ure you r h eal th ; but I w il l s a y no m ore
b ut hope yo u w i ll excuse th is scrawl an d I am
you r affect ion ate M othe r
P E GG Y C
.

D E A R B R OT H E R W e recei ved you r l etter

and we were very h appy to hear that you were
i n good heal th T here i s noth i ng th at i s wo rth
tell i ng you about I h ave read G u y M a n n e ring
an d I l iked i t v e ry well
I h av e read the
I
I m iicm C o lfa ge and I l i ked i t very m uch
am read i ng the H isto ry of E i ig/cm o an d I have
got to the re ign o f G eo rge I I I
I will have
do ne as S an dy has to go to t he cl achan th is
n igh t I add no m ore bu t that I rem ai n you r
MY

M AR G AR E T CAR LYL E
1

i l la g e

18 19

TO

ALEXA ND ER CA RL YLE

X X X V To
.

A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
E D INBUR G H

M a in h ill

9 th M o re};

819

D E AR B R OT H E R I s natch a hu rried hou r

from th e G erman l esso n to ans we r you r k i nd
an d entertai n i ng epistl e wh i ch reach ed m e th is
fo renoo n I n eed not s a y how pl eas i ng i t is to
m e to l earn that you are al l i n good bod ily
health an d com fortabl e spi rits T he m ost im
po rtan t part o f my task will be accom pl ished
when I h av e assu red you that th e sam e i s the
case w it h m e I s til l wal k out before b reak fast
an d fo r an hou r o r two afte r ; o f wh ich practice
I n d th e be necial e ffects i n an i ncreased
appeti te fo r vict zi cz i and a ge ne ral v igou r o f
body
I h av e no doubt that two o r th ree
mo nths o f s um m er e xerc i se w il l completely
restore th i s m y digest ive a pp a ra t u s (as ou r
P ro fesso r calls i t ) to th at state o f acti v i ty
w hi ch a pe rso n at m y age no t add icted to
excesses o f any k i nd an d g i fted wi th a so und
co nsti tution ou g h t n atu ral ly to ex p ect
I am g lad to u nde rstan d that the l ibrary i s
i n a p ros p e rous state It i s to be hoped that
MY

VO L

LE TTERS O F

2 26

TH O/II A S

CA RL YLE

8 19

ou r nat ive v illage w il l no l o nger be th e sco rn of

n eighbouri ng districts fo r i ts deciency i n th i s
part i cular
Y ou are v ery right i n s tat i ng that th e A b be
R ay nal i s rash i n some o f h is conj ectu res
H e was a j esui t p riest i n h is t i m e ; but afte r
wards quarrel led wi th the m renou nce d thei r
so ciety an d w i th it al l m oderat io n i n treat i ng
o f the i r rel igion
H e was obl iged to l eave
F rance for h i s opi n ions and res ided for a
ti m e i n E ngland an d lastly i n th e N etherlands
T he man see ms to hav e had a ery tem per ;
and i t is o nly fo r th e fa c ts th at h is books
co ntai n th at any o n e can respect them T h ere
is no wo nder th at you feel i t i mposs ib l e to nd
m uch t im e fo r read i ng i n the p resen t season
K eep do i ng a l ittl e at you r hou rs o f re l axat ion
both i n wri ti ng and read ing ; an d you will
never re p ent i t I n read i ng R aynal you w i l l of
course atten d to th e G eogra p hy of th e cou ntri es
W hat ails that i ndol ent you ng person D o il
o r more properly speaki ng J ack th at h e w il l
?
not wri te
I f I had any t i me I woul d sen d
h i m a l ette r t his very n igh t
,

819

T O A L E X A IVD E R

CARL YLE

227

Wi th res p ect to m y occupations at th is

p eriod ; they are not o f th e m os t i mportan t
natu re
B erzel i us paper is p ri nted
I was
this day co rrecti ng th e p roof sheet
T he
transl atio n l ooks no t v ery il l i n p ri n t I w ish
I h ad p lenty more o f a S im il ar k in d to tra n s
l ate : and good p ay for do i ng i t L et us wai t
a wh il e I am s til l at th e G erm an as I h i nted
above M y teacher is no t a m an (any m o re
than h e was a b oy ) o f bril l ian t parts ; bu t we

go o n i n a lov i ng way together and h e gi ves

m e the p ro i z zm c ia t io iz co rrectly I suppose ; I
am abl e to read books now wi th a d i ct io nary
A t p resen t I am read ing a s tu p id pl ay o f
K otzebue s bu t to n ight I am to h av e th e
h isto ry o f F rede ri ck th e G reat from I rv i ng
to
read
a
g
ood
I w il l m ake an a wl
st r u
l
e
gg
d eal o f i t and o f th e I tal ian i n s um me r whe n
at hom e
T he re is n oth in g new here that I wo t o f
e rc e so rt o f weathe r wh ich I daresay i s no
strange r to you H o w d o th e farm i n g o p e ra
I h o p e to h el p you at th e h ay
t ion s p roce e d
l u t tim e is ou r ted i o us sc roll shoul d now
time

d 0

LE TTERS O F

h av e end i ng
fa i th ful ly

TH O/IIA S

CA RL YLE

8 19

I am always m y dear B oy you rs

T H O MA S CAR LYL E

X X X V I T o
.

h is

E DI N BUR G H

M OT H E R

M o n day

M a in h ill

(2 9 t /i

M Y D E AR M OT H E R I am

III a rc/i ) ,

m uch obl iged

to you fo r th e affect ionate con cern w h ich you
express for m e i n that brie f letterth at I can
no t de l ay to sen d yo u a few words by way o f
repl y
I need not repeat what I h a v e al ready
told to S andy wh o wi ll be glad to com m u n icate
i t that I am i n good health I f I conti nue to
wal k I shal l becom e very st ro ng shortly I
was affected by the S hort notic e yo u gi v e m e o f
A u nt M ary s d eath and th e short re ectio n
wi th wh i ch you close i t
I t i s t rue m y dear

M other that we m ust al l soo n fol low he r

s uch is the u nal terabl e and not u npl eas i ng doom
so

larg er p ar t of t h i s i nt eres ti ng le tt er i s gi ve n b y M
F roude s i 6

I am so
F roude p r i nt s t h i s se nt e n ce as fol lo w s
M
for t he affec ti o n a t e co n cer n w h i ch you
m uch obl ig e d t o y
ex p ress for me i n t ha t lo ng le tt er t ha t I ca nn o t delay t o se n d
you a f w br i ef w ords by w y of re p ly
1

The

e,

ou

1819

TO H IS

III O TH

ER

L o
t

O
\

of men then i t is w e ll fo r those who at that

awful mom en t wh i ch i s before every o ne sh all
be abl e to look back w ith cal m ness an d for
ward w ith hope B u t I need not dwel l upo n
th is sol em n subj ect it is fam il iar to the
thoughts o f eve ry on e who has any tho u gh t
I am rathe r afrai d that I have not been
qu i te regul ar i n read i ng that bes t o f books
wh ich yo u recom m ended to m e
H owev er
l ast n ight I was read i ng u p o n my favou rite
J ob ; and I hope to do better i n t i m e to co me
I e ntreat you to bel ieve that I am s i ncere l y
des i rous o f bei n g a good m an ; and though
we m ay d i ffe r i n som e few u n important parti e
u la rs
yet I rml y trus t that th e same Powe r
wh i ch c reated us w i th i m p erfect facul t ies wil l
pardo n th e erro rs o f ev ery o ne (and none are
w i tho ut them ) who s eek s truth and ri g hteous
ness wi th a s impl e heart
Y ou need no t fear m y s tudyi ng too m uch
In fact m y p rospects are s o u nsettl ed that I do
not o fte n s it down to books w i th al l the real
th at I am ca p abl e o f Y ou are no t to th i nk I
am fret ful
I h ave l o n g accus tomed m y m i nd
,

LE TTERS

2 30

0F

THO M A S CARL YLE

819

to look upo n the futu re wi th a sedate aspect ;

and at any rate m y hopes h ave neve r yet
failed m e A F rench author (D A le m b e rt o ne
of the few persons who deserve the honourabl e
ep ithet o f ho nes t m an ) whom I was lately
read i ng rem arks that on e who devotes h is
l ife to learn i ng ought to carry fo r h is motto
L ioe rty T ru t/z P o ve rty ; for h e that fears th e
l atter can n ever have th e form er T h is shoul d
not p reven t o n e from usi ng e v ery ho nest effo rt
to attai n a co m fo rtab l e s i tuat io n i n l i fe ; it says
o nly that the bes t is dearly bough t by base
con duct an d th e wo rst i s no t worth mourn i ng
over
B u t I ti re you I doubt We sh a l l
speak abou t al l thes e m atters m ore fu l ly i n
s um m er
F o r I am m edi tati ng j ust now to
com e down to S tay awh ile wi th you a e com
a n ie d w ith a cargo o f books I tal ian Germ an
p
an d others Y o u wi ll giv e m e yonder l ittle
room and you will waken m e every mor n i ng
about 5 o r 6 o clock the n su ck s tudy I s hall
delv e i n the yard too ; and i n a word becom e
not onl y th e w ises t bu t th e strongest m an i n
th ose regio ns T h is i s all c lo ve r but i t pleases
,

FRO M

819

H IS

HER

mo T

2 31

one T h e young m an M urray (wi th who m I

used to co rrespon d ) i n form s m e that h e th i nk s
o f goi ng to teach an d p reach i n th e isl and o f
M an and i nv i tes m e to spen d a mon th o r two
with [h im ] P erhaps i t woul d be well to go
B u t we shall ta l k about al l th is afte rwards
If the carri er do not com e before a fortnigh t
yo u m ay d i rect the bo x to m e at F o rres t s I
l o ng to h av e som e cakes T he last I th i nk
were the bes t I ever ate T h e butter you wil l
be aston ished to l earn i s n early done I hav e
n o doubt that i t h as bee n lc h e d : an d bes ides
H il l h a s eate n o f i t s i nce I came h av i ng give n
m e m eal i n return
I f you sen d any let i t be
a pou n d o r so I am red uced to th is part o f
the sheet [the rs t page above th e date] to
subscri be mysel f my dear M othe r yours m os t
aff C t i 0 natel Y
T II M A s CAR LY LE
.

XX XVI ]

F ro m h is

M OT H E R

M A I N H IL L,

D EA R

S O N I

1 0 1/z

1
.

A /2r l
'

8 19

recei ved you r l ette r gladl y

r i nt e d i n p ar t a n d w i t h

c ri o rs ,

i n L ife i
,

63

LE TTER S O F

2 32

CARL YLE

Tl I O J / A S

18 19

an d was happy to hear o f you r wel fare W e

are al l ab ou t ou r ord i nary way thank God !
O h m y dear dear s o n I woul d p ray fo r a
b l essi ng o n yo ur learn i ng I beg you w i th al l
the feel i ng o f an affect io nate mothe r you wo ul d
s tudy the Wo rd o f G od wh ich H e has grac i
i n ou r h ands
O h that i t m ay
o u s ly pu t
powerful ly reach o u r hearts that w e m ay d i s
cern i t i n it s t rue l ight God m ade m an afte r
H is ow n i m age therefo re he behoved to be
w i thout any i mpe rfect facu l t ies B eware m y
dear s o n o f su ch thoughts let th em not dwel l
o n you r m i nd God forb id ! B ut I daresay
yo u w ill not can read th i s s craw l
I h av e se nt
you a few cakes and a l ittl e b utter I wil l sen d
you mo re next t i me S end the box back w i th
th e carrier I woul d adv ise yo u to com e hom e
early i n seaso n I k now i t woul d be for you r
heal th an d i t is su re l y ve ry necessary D o
sen d m e a l ong l ette r and tel l m e when you wil l
be hom e an d all yo u r news I am i n a h urry
as you m a y s e e by bl u nders I hav e [m ade] I
hope you w il l overl ook them an d I am [you r]
affectionate m other
M AR G AR E T C A PLY LF
.

1819

AI R

To

P S
.

RO B ER T

II I T CH E L L

)
I

D o m ake rel igio n your great s tudy

i f yo u repe nt i t I w ill bear th e b l ame for

Tom
CVCI

X X X V I I I To M r
.

R M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M n
.

M A IN H ILL, 3 I s t M a y
.

819

se

M Y D E AR F R I E N D In com pl iance wi th you r

request I t ransm i t to you by the m ed i u m o f

ou r dearl y belov ed J oh nsto ne th e i n fo rmat io n
wh ich I h av e gl eaned respecti ng your B rothe r
at S t J oh n s and the p lan o f our correspo nd
e nce d uri n g th e s um m er I t is the rai ny even i ng
o f a d ul l day wh i ch I h ave spe nt i n read i ng a
l ittl e o f K lopstock s M e ss ia s (fo r th e man
J ard i ne who b roke h is engageme nt ) ; and i n
l ook i ng over t he i n ated wo rk o f S qu i re B ris t e d

o n A m er ic a a n d lzer R es o u rc es
V i vaci ty
th erefo re o n m y part i s qu i te ou t o f the ques
t io n B u t w ithou t fu rthe r p re face
l have don e as usual al m ost noth i ng s i nce
,

h i s book w h i ch made so m e n o i se a t t he ti me as by
t he R J oh n B i t d a clerg yma n of t he C h h of E n g la n d
wh
se tt led i n A mer i ca
I

ev

rs e

u rt

L E T TE Rs

2 34

0F

THO M A S CA RL YLE

18 19

we parted S om e o ne asked m e w ith a s m i le

o f wh ich I knew not th e mean i ng i f I woul d
read t/i a t book putti ng i nto my hands a vo l um e
o f Rousseau s Co nfess io n s
I t i s perhaps the
most rem arkabl e tom e I h av e eve r read E x
cept fo r i ts occas io nal obsce n i ty I m igh t wish
to s e e th e remai nde r of th e book ; to try i f
poss ibl e to co nn ect th e character o f J ean J acques
wi th m y p rev iou s ideas O f hum an natu re T o
sa
h
e
was
m
ad
were
to
cu
t
th
e
k
not
wi
thou
t
y
loos i ng i t A t any rate w hat cou l d have in
du c e d any m ortal m ad o r w ise to recol l ect and
de l i n eate s uch a ti ssue o f vulgar debauchery
false h earted ness an d m isery is qu i te beyon d
my comprehens ion
I f we regre t o ur exc l us io n
from th at G all ic constellatio n wh ich has s e t
and fou n d no s uccessor to Its b rill i ancy th e
M e m oirs of M a rm o n t el o r R ousseau s Co nfe s
shoul d teach a v i rtuous B ri to n to be
s io n s
conten t w i th the dull sob ri ety o f h i s nat iv e
cou n try I w ill not speak o f th e A bb R ay nal :
o f oth ers I h av e n oth i ng to s a y
I t i s l ate ; the husb andm en of th is rustic
m ansio n are al l s unk i n profoun d repose : why
.

MR

To

R o E E R T M I T CH

ELL

2 35

s houl d I lon g er wake ? A sl e nder s teed i s to

be saddl ed fo r m e to mo rrow by s ix o clock
whereupo n I des ig n to ri de wi th th is S heet to
J oh nsto ne at B o gs ide a n i mportan t errand
you wil l say M eanwh ile Good n igh t E ver
y ou rs
T H O MA S CAR LY LE

X X X I X To M r
.

M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M
e

M A IN H ILL,

jzz ty

a n se

8 19

I h ave no t take n up th e pen m y dear

M i tchell because o f be i ng sm i t wi th th e l ove
o f sacred lette r wri ti ng ; bu t sim p ly to acqu it
m e o f a deb t wh i ch for som e ti m e h as l ai n
rather h eavy o n my co nsc ience A n anc ient
sage p h ilosophe r h as said th at noth i ng shoul d
be do ne in vita M in e rva ; m y respec t fo r anti
u it
i
s
very
co
ns
ide
rabl
e
but
w
i
thou
t
n
f
r
i
n
i
;
y
q
g
i n g such prece p ts wh ich laz i n ess also raises her
am iabl e v o ice to a pp l aud m y terrestrial explo i ts
woul d qu ickl y have a close
A fte r al l th is
com mu n ication by l ette r g ives occas io n to m any
squabbles be twee n th e mo ral and the act ive
,

LE TTERS O F

2 36

CA RL YLE

TITO/W A S

8 19

powe rs I w is h from m y soul som e less l abo ri

ou s
m ode o f fri e ndly i nte rcou rse coul d b e
d ev i sed M uch m ay be do ne i n the igh t o f
ages
I desp ai r o f steam i ndeed ; n o t w ith
stand i ng it s fel ic i tous appl icat io n to s o m any
use ful pu rposes : bu t who can l im i t th e u nd is
covered age n ts w i th wh i ch K nowledge i s yet to
en ri ch P h ilan th ropy ? C h arm i ng p rospect for
the dull abo v e all th e sol itary dull of future
t i mes ! S m al l com fo rt for us howeve r who i n
no great fract io n of o ne age sh al l n eed to care
noth i ng abo ut th e m atter
B ut wherefore
wh i ne
E mploy i ng rath er o u r own v ery l i m i ted
gi fts a ga m a s p inga i M in e rva a t a in n t si nce
we can h ave n o othe r T h e bes t qual i ty wh ich
I can com m u n icate to m y narrat ive o f m y
j ou rney to C umberlan d i s ext rem e b rev i ty I n
fact however s tro n gly a love of th e subl im e
m igh t tempt m e to re new th e k i n d anx iety you
fel t o n our accou nt the love o f t ruth wh ich is
o r ou g ht to be m ore powerful com pels m e to
declare that noth i n g dangerous o r wo nderful
occu rred M augre th e pred i ctio ns o f yo ur l igh t
bod ied grocer the S ki nbu rness wh erry bu ffeted
.

819

TO

II R

RO B ER T

'

Ill / T CH E L L

2 37

th e bi llows of the S ol way as proudly as ever

the B ucentaur d i d thos e o f the u nqu iet A d riati c
We had not ev e n th e dub ious pleasure o f being
frighte ned A poor C um brian states m an how
eve r enj oyed a m ore spi ri t s ti rri ng fortu ne
U nused to h is S i tuat ion he cas t a penetrat i ng

glan ce upo n th e secrets of the hoary deep ;

h is v i sage became pall i d and e l ongated ; and
when turn i ng rou nd h e n oti ced th e e n tran ce o f
a spoo nful of sp ray
he excl ai med i n

a sepu l ch ra l to ne L ocl: p ra sa rve a s ! se e as

B u t th e la p se of
i t s coo m in ja in in t/z e a re
two hou rs del i vered h i m from al l h is terrors
O n arri v i ng at VVo rk in gt o n nex t m o rn i ng the
S eve r n we we re told was not to pro ceed o n
he r voyage fo r a week T ho ugh wish i ng to
e nj oy th e m el ancholy sat is fact io n of see i ng
J oh nston e fai rl y u nde r way ; yet wh en F ri day
,

S ee h

i t i s com i ng rush i ng i n t here

abou t t o sa i l for Nova S co t i a w here
M J oh n s t o n e w
a t A nn a p ol i s Royal he w t o be t u t or i n t he fa m i l y of a M
R i t ch i e M i t chel l i n a le tt e r of 3 d A p i l 8 1 9 says
J oh n s t o n e w oul d r i val
M oses i f he w e e l i v i ng be i n g by far
t he meekes t ma n i n t hese t i m es L i ke K ilm y he i s as p u re
as p ure ca n be ; l i ke Ni code m us [ i ]he i s o n e i n w hom t here
i s n o g u i le
1

a s

a s

s c

en

LE TTERS O F

2 38

I H O/ A S

CARL YLE

1 8 19

cam e an d (H arri n g ton Wh itehaven C ocker

m ou th C ru mm oc k Wate r etc be i ng v is i ted )
h is day o f sail i ng was s t ill at a co ns iderable
d istance th e oppo rtu ni ty of a D um fr
i es sloop
i nduced m e to take farewel l o f o u r frie ndly
em igrant What m y feel i ngs we re th at afte r
noo n I need no t describe T o som e days o f
m ou rn ful ex c i temen t a sort o f stupo r had s u c
c e e de d
wh i ch the noise o f two hal f c iv il ised
sh ipm en and th e task o f gu ess ing at some
s tanzas o f Tasso we re l ittl e cal cu l ated to d ispel
B y th is t i m e poo r J am es is mos t probably in
specti n g the rugg ed sho res o f F undy B ay L e t
u s hope th at h is talen ts an d those v i rtues wh i ch
are th ei r m odest adorn me nt w i ll secu re from
the A cadian s that affectio n and esteem wh ich
all who know h i m h av e never failed to pay I
do no t w i sh you to co nv i n ce m e that we th ree
shal l n eve r m eet agai n u nder more ben ign
aus p i ces
S i nce m y retu rn ex cept o ne j ou rney to
D um fries wh i ch I u ndertook fo r the pu rpose o f
e n g ag i ng a s upply o f poetry rev i ews and s uch
s m al l g ear du ri ng m y cont i nuan ce i n these
,

819

To

MR

R O B ER T

MI

T CH E L L

2 39

p arts I h av e not b ee n fou r m il es from home

J ard i n e gi ves m e a sol i tary l esso n each week
i n Germ an wh i ch I repay by o ne i n F ren ch
O f I tal ian noth i ng S houl d b e sai d : and w i th
respect to L esage s Tlz eo ry of A ttra c t io n my
efforts are feebl e and far between
I k now
not i f there be a G oddess o f S loth though
co ns ideri ng that th i s o f all ou r pass ions is the
least tu rb ulent and m os t v icto rious i t coul d not
wi thout partial ity b e l eft dest i tute
B ut i f
there be s h e certai nl y looks o n w i th an a p p ro v
i ng s m ile whe n i n a s up i ne postu re I l ie for
hou rs w i th m y eyes xed upo n th e pages o f
L ady M o rgan s F ra n ce o r the t ravels o f F a u ja s
de S ai nt F o n d m y m i n d seldom tak i ng th e
pai ns eve n to exec rate the i mbecil e m aterial ism
the tawd ry gossi p i ng o f the form er o r to p ity
the i n rm s p eculations and th e al ready ant i
u a t e d M i neralo g y o f th e latte r
S
hal
l
I
\V
h
a
t
q
sa
R
to
th
e
woebe
g
o
ne
ode
ri
ck
las
t
o
f
the
y
?
G oth s ; and othe rs o f a si m ilar stam p
T hey
l/
w
L esa g e s Tr i/e d l y to
p ubl i shed i n
m i/
.

18 1
2

'

/s

ne I

ru e

cu

a s

ro

b a b ly

H ay
/ ri de s ,

p ar

Vy g

Fa

u as

dc

on

A n gle l e rre ,

S a i nt I
-

on

( It

a is

d, P

Eco s se
1

797

ct

i /es

LE TTERS

2 4o

01 " TI M I / A s

CA RL YLE

819

go th rough m y b rai n as l igh t goes th rough an

ach rom at ic telescope
Whe n even th is task
becom es ti resome ; o r whe n the need of e xe r
cise (wh i ch I n ever neglect fo r a day wi th im
u n it
i
nduces
m
e
to
take
the

e
l
ds
I
sau
n
te
r
;
p
y)
about bu ild i ng dece i tful hopes ; o r whe n othe r
wise d ispos e d i ndulgi ng a n obdured reckl ess
ness wh ich I am apt e nough to d ign i fy wi th
th e n am e o f pat ience D o y ou k now of a m ore
ed i fy i ng l i fe
S eriously i t becom es you as my
F athe r C o n fesso r to adm i n ister an appropriate
rebuke
I am glad to hear of you r i n nocen t e nj oy
m ents M a l col m L ai ng produced i n m e some
years s i n ce an op i n io n o f O ss ian s im i l ar to
yours ; fro m wh i ch i ndeed I do not recollect of
heari ng any but o ne perso n d issen t
Th e
I have j us t bee n rea d ing M i t chell ha d w r i tt e n i h i s
las t le tt er M alcol m L a i ng s d i sser t a ti o n o n t he au t he nti c i t y
of O i
Poems w h i ch seems t o p rove beyo n d t he p oss i b i l it y
of a d oub t t ha t t hese p roduc ti o n s ex i s t e d n o w here bu t i
t he bra i n of t he S chool mas t er of B ade n och M Ph
l i fe
i n h i s S o n i l a w s [D B re w s t er s ] En cy clop dia gi ves us t o
u n ders t a n d n early t he same t h i ng a n d I co n fess t o you t ha t I
feel a sor t of secre t p leasure i n behold i ng ly i ng va n i ti es l i ke
t hese ex p ose d t o p ubl i c i n d ign a t i o n a n d co nt em pt I woul d
be g lad t o k n o w your o p i n i o n o n t h i s subj ec t
.

ss a n s

e rso n s

r.

819

T O AI R

RO B ER T

I lI I

T CH E LL

241

exceptio n i n questio n was an A borigi nal from

the edge o f M i d L orn whom I m et w ith last
W i nter S om e two hu nd red L ati n vocabl es
wh ich h e had p i cked up at S t A nd rews seem ed
o nly to h ave strengthened h i s co nv i ct io n o f th e
Gael s i n n ite superiori ty i n every departmen t
of N atu re and A rt T h e m ent io n o f the s l edge
cars th e i tch th e igno rance of h is C el ti c k i ns
m e n was a p ierc i ng th rus t wh i ch coul d not be
p arried by the b arren ness a n d alt itude o f the
h ighl and h ills s i nce S wi tzer l and was ready
w ith he r A lps to oppose h i s G ramp ians and
w ith he r Zw i ngl es he r Gess ners her H allers
E ulers B ernou ill is to ec l ipse h is sol i tary F e r
gusso n and M acl au ri n P oor Pseudo O ss i an
was s i l en ced as eas il y by the i ntrep id O rk ney
m an ; and th is ferv i d patri ot afte r an hour o f
to rtu re uttered a kee n v i tupe ratio n o n M alcol m

an d m e for bei ng M ongrels o f the plai n

w h i ch sh ut th e scene
T h e school m aste r o f
Badenoch l i ke eve ry dog has h ad h is day
Y o u speak very m uch at you r ease abou t
v isi ting m e i n a few weeks ! I sh ould lose
patience but the re is o n e sad and sol e rel ief
VOL I
R
-

LE TTERS O F

2 42

CA RL YLE

TII OIII A S

8 19

i f the m ou n tai n will no t com e to M ah omet

M ahomet k nows what course to take I was
go i ng to say o ne o f th ese S aturdays bu t s i nce
I began to write a lette r from D r B rewster
h as arriv ed wh ich wi ll very poss ibl y b ri ng m e
over o n S aturday rst
I t is about that ca l
R
Geo
oss
and
I
m
us
t
M
r
c u la t in
se e
;
g
D un can T he l etter has al ready s p en t a week
upo n th e road an d there i s no t im e to lose

E xpect m e th erefore u nl ess

D iana i n the
1
sh ape o f rai n
prev ent m e and my poor sh e l ty

from t rav ell i ng

O ! that I saw the imp o f
fame wh erewi th poo r M u rray is i n travai l !
,

allus i o n t o D i a n a as a n obs t ruc t i o n i n o n e sha p e

or a n o t her w o n e t ha t C arlyle m a d e more t ha n o n ce i n la t er
S ee h i s le tt er t o E merso n of 3 t h M y 1 8 3 5 a n d h i
years
le tt er t o me i n 8 7 4 c i t e d i n a n o t e t o t he le tt er t o E merso n
i
t he p ubl i shed C orres p o n d e n ce of C arlyle a n d E merso n
i 69
B u t h i s memo y usually of ex t raord i n ary accuracy
had i n t h i s t hrou g h all h i s l i fe p layed h i m false T h allu
s i o n w d er i ve d from H lio
B ut i H o i t i s

Pallas
n o t D i a n a wh i nt erve n es t o h i n d er t he int e n t
of t he k nig h t
1

Th e

a s

n
.

a s

u r

ra s

'

u az

ra s

s am e i s h p f ru t
A d t wi t h
r t h ru t
d h
p ri g
H
G rg
sh i l d w h i h m d h
k
St d t iff tw r
f m d
t k
H di o
P rt i C t
B u t Pa l l a
n

er

a n

'

x t e s

on
,

as

a n

e e

e o

t ra
u

mm

ns or
ra s,

'

e co c

to s o c

a n o

ii 7 8 1 -7 8 4
.

18 19

To

7 0H IV
:

CA R L YL

2 43

B ut I h av e do n e Y ours
T h e S te w artry
my dear M i tchell i n al l s i n ceri ty o f heart
" 1

T H O MA S CAR L Y L E
X L To J O H N

C AR LY LE

E DINBUR G H

1 I tlt

M a in h ill

No ve m ber

819

M Y D E AR B R O T H E R A t length I h ave le isu re

to devote a few m i nutes to the duty o f detail i ng

the particulars of m y h isto ry s i nce ou r parti ng
o n the s um m i t o f E ric s t a n e
I am seated i n the back room o f a M rs
T homso n (wi fe o f a T ailo r ) wh ich I re nt at the
rate o f 6 s p er week re i n cl uded T h is per
so n seems to h ave a good character i n the
neighbou rhood ; and fro m the few sym p toms I
h ave yet bee n abl e to observe i t a pp ears l i kely
th at I sh al l be very s nu g here T h e room i s
not l arg e b ut i t i s cl ean and th e neat l ittle
l andl ady says i t i s p e rfectly free o f sm oke and
o f m ost detes ted l u gs
,

S t e war t y of K i rkcudbr i g h t

h i s i n refere n ce t o
M u ray s L it er y / /i / y f C // w y p ub l i shed i n
8
val uable bu t u n deservedly n e g lec t ed L w n des calls i t
1

The

a r

s or

22

LE TTERS O F

2 44

TH O/II A S

CA RL YLE

18 19

T h us m y dear J ack have I wri tten fo r thy

frie ndly perusal a ful l accoun t o f m y t ra n sa c
t i ons up to th is date
T h e W a fe r (well h e
deserv es that n o m de gu e rre is no t yet com e
to town ; s o that bei ng u nabl e to t ransact any
bus i n ess I h ave ful l l eisure to re ect upon
every part of m y co ndi t io n P retty s trong i n
body and capable as I know of v igorous
effort I am far fro m despai ri ng
H owev er
as I h ave noth i ng new to tel l you upo n
th is s ubj ect I forb ear to d iscuss i t further
fo r th e present
L et us be co ntented m y
bo n ny boy pruden t act i ve resolute i n im
prov i ng e ve ry advantage w h ich o u r s i tuat io n
affords and moderate success is hardly doubt
ful

o
clock
A
fte
r
an
i
nterval
o
f

ve
E
M
9
hours s pen t i n read i ng the E a in ou rgk R evie w
and executi ng various com m i ss io ns I resum e
my l ucub rat ions T he u nhappy carri er is no t
?
come What can i t be that keeps h i m
Is
h is steed foundered o r h i msel f overpowered
?
wi th l iquo r
A las ! poo r R ose !
A t th is t ime I guess A l i ck and the rest of
,

819

TO

N A CARL YLE

7 OH

2 45

you are seated arou nd the ro o m re each pu r

s ui n g h i s respect i ve study Good l uck to you
al l ! B e d il igen t and you w ill not m iss you r
reward Tel l th e s ma l l c/z ila er that I expect
cop ies fro m th em all n ext box l etters from
all that h av e a ny po wers of d iction an d h av e
advanced beyo nd the s t roRes i n th e art of
writi ng
H av i n g scarcely spoken to any o ne s i nce
my arrival I h ave non e o f that m uch coveted
com m od i ty n ews to se nd you T he b u rghers
o f th is c i ty are for most p art m i nd i n g thei r
p ri vate affai rs ; and the few o f th em who take
any sh are i n publ ic transact ions are occup ied
as el sewhere i n tal ki ng abou t the m assacre of
M ancheste r and th e fool ish C arl i le s conduct at
h is trial T he d ist ress u nder wh ich the u n i
v ersal k i ngdom suffers seem s not to be fel t i n
E d i nbu rg h to th e extent that i t i s l i kel y e re
l on g to reach
A l ready h owever there is
m uch p overty amon g th e lowest o rde rs ; and
t he issue o f th is cris is seem s anxiousl y ant ici
p ated by al l Fo r th e rest a a n rlie s and cattl e
o f that stam p are s till i n co ns ide rabl e fo rce ;
-

LE TTERS O F

2 46

TI/ O/l/ A S

CARL YLE

18 19

but yo u and I hav e othe r th i ngs to do than

take up ou r tim e with them
H ave you go t H um e yet ?
D oes Geo
J oh nston come to g et h i s F ren ch lesso n from
you ? T ry th e L ati n i f h e come you are s ure
to m ake p rogress i n i t ; mos t p robably i t w i ll
tu rn to good accou n t for you and any way i t i s
a whol esom e adage that says : C an do is eas ily
carried about wi th o ne A g ai n let m e renew
my ofte n repeated desi re that you w il l pu nctually
atten d to you r writi ng I m us t sen d you lin es
u nless I forget as I d id to gi v e you the
mo ney last T uesday till I was severa l m iles
fro m you wh en i t was u tterly use l ess to deplore
m y negl igence S e nd m e you r copy to i nspect
a n
way
I

n
ish
my
dear
J
ack
wi
th
sub
y
sc rib i ng mysel f thy affect ionate b rother
.

T H O MA S CAR LYLE
X L I T o M r
.

R M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M
.

E DIN BURG H

8 m N o vem oe r

a n se

8 19

D E AR M I T C H ELL W i thou t rel uctance I

push as ide the m assy quarto o f M illar o n the
MY

T O AI R

1819

RO B ER T

MI

TCHELL

2 47

E ngl ish gov ern men t to pe rfo rm the m ore

p leasi ng duty o f wri ti ng a few l i nes to you by
t he co nveyan ce o f M r D uncan N 0 m aterial
even t h as been added to my h istory s i n ce the
d ay whe n I parted w i th you at th e av enue o f
C um m ertrees : b ut by scribbl i n g upon some
p o rtio n o f th i s sheet I expect to secure the
advan tage o f h eari ng from you i n return ; and
i ndepe ndently o f th is i f m y l abou r do n o good
the com fo rt i s i t can do l ittle ill
I reached what certai n pe rso ns have been

pl eased to call the i ntellectual ci ty o n the

afternoo n o f yesterday week T he cou ntry o f
T weedsm u i r yo u h ave o fte n h eard m e s a y i s
th e m ost m ourn ful i n E u rope R ugged w i th
out bei ng el evated barren sto rmy and cove red
at l east i n wi n te r w i th an eve r brood i ng dark
ness i t seems a t haun t fo r th e h arassed
fanatics w h o tenanted i t i n the seventeen th
century I neve r c rossed th is d ismal region
with out m el anchol y b i tte r recollectio ns o f the
,

o n ce n o t ed book of Professor J oh n M i llar of

i / G
/
E
/
t
t
i
w
A
H
i
i
l
e
nti
t
led
V
w
g
f
g
rs t p ubl i she d i n 7 8 7
1

T he

s o r ca

11

ze

s z

o v ern

las

m en t,

L E TTERS O F THO R/ A S CA RL YLE

48

819

g ood wh ic h I had left ; and forebodi ngs of the

ev il I was l i kel y to m eet w i th : i n short i f
T ro p h o n iu s s houl d ever th i nk o f setti ng up i n
the worl d again I woul d h av e h i m l eave far
b eh i nd th e vales o f T hessal y howev er tem pt
i ng th ey m ay seem and dig h is grotto i n som e
nop e o f th is dark C i m m erian desert ! Y o u m ay

wonder why I so vehe me ntly abuse th is ex

I can not s a y u nl ess
c e lle n t s heep country :
that o n T uesday the roads were very bad an d
th e weather v ery wet ; and accord i ng to D av i d
H um e c o n t igu ity i n t im e o r p la ce i s a pri nc ipl e
o f asso ciat ion among our ideas
S i n ce m y arriv al i n E d i nburgh the employ
m en t o f wait i ng fo r carriers travel l i ng to F i fe
etc has consum ed m os t o f m y t im e O n T ues
day morn ing the benevol ent M r D uncan car
ried m e to B ail ie Waugh s T h is wors h ipful
m agistrate s eems (u nder th e rose ) to be a very
i msy vapou ri ng sort o f character I l eft h i m
m y add ress ; an d shal l probabl y hear no m ore
o f h im W i th regard to you r m ost k i n d M i n
ister m y c i rcum stan ces qual i fy m e but poorly
,

a slo pi ng hollo w be t wee n

t wo

h i lls

819

TO

II R

RO B ER T

III I

T CH E LL

2 49

for do ing any j usti ce to the feel i ngs wh ich h is

conduct i s cal culated to exc i te E ven to yo u
I cannot en ter upo n th is s ubj ect Y ester nigh t
I en roll ed i n the class of S cots l aw
T h e P ro
fe s s o r D r H u me a nephew o f th e ph ilosophe r
al ready m e nt io ned speaks i n a voi ce scarce
aud ibl e ; and h i s th i nki ng h a s yet to S ho w a ll
i ts poi nts o f s im ilari ty w ith th e penetrat i ng
gen ius o f h is U n cl e Y et I p ro p h e s y I s hal l
not d isl ike th e s ci ence I f h eal th cont i nue I
shal l feel for i t al l th e ardou r wh i ch i s naturally
i nsp i red b y th e prospect (howeve r d ub ious ) of i ts
afford i ng a p e rm anen t d i rect io n to m y efforts I
shal l req ui re mo reove r to i nv estigate the h istory
antiqu it ies m an ne rs etc o f ou r nat ive cou ntry
a subj ect fo r wh i ch I feel noth i ng l i ke re p u g
n ance : and fo r th e details o f the subj ect s ix
.

I had t hou g h t of a tt em pti ng t o beco e a n a d voca t e I t

seemed g lor i ous t o for i t s i n de p e n de n cy a n d I d i d rea d som e
l
books a tt e n d H u e s lec t ures o n S co t ch l w a n d co n verse
1

i t h a n d ques t i o n var i ous d ul l p eo p l e of t he p rac ti cal sor t

l t i t a n d t hey a n d t he d m i red lec t ur i ng I l ume h i m sel f
p
d t o me mere de ni ze n s of t he k i n g do m of du l n ess p o i n t
p
i ng t o wards n o t h i ng bu t m o n ey as wa g es for al l t ha t b gp l
of d i s g us t H ume s lec t ures o n ce do n e w i t h I flu ng t he t h i ng
a way for ever No t e of C arlyle s c i t e d by I d i n h i s L ife
f C ly / i 6 4
w

e a re

a r

e,

ro u

oo

LE TTERS O F

2 5o

TI I O II A S
I

CA RL YLE

8 19

years o f sol itary read i ng (woul d i t had been

st u d !
h
ave
give
n
m
e
a
most
cou
rageo
us
i
n
y )
d i ffe re nce to th e m a gn it u a e of any fol io capab l e
o f bei ng l i fted without th e aid o f the m echan i cal
powers M y fear at the p resen t is ev e n th at I
s h a ll n o t be able to procu re a copy o f E rsk i ne s
B ut nex t t i me I write yo u s hal l
I n st it u te s
k now m o re particu l arl y abou t these affai rs
I have not see n D r B rewster because h e
was not i n town till th i s day H is j ourn al
a p pears to be i n a s ickly state F ew speak o f
i t an d those few w i thout respect
T here i s l i ttl e that I can tel l you respecti ng
the news c iv i l o r l i terary o f these parts wh ich
M r D u ncan wil l not b e m uch better qual ied
to l ay befo re you I h eard L esl ie on ce o nly
D es i rous i t woul d appear of beat i ng C hal mers
o n h is ow n grou nd he i s s ai d to h av e bee n
greatl y d ist i ngui shed th is s easo n for the p iety
of h i s ope n i ng l ectu res Whe n I was there he
s p oke o f man y p h ilosophe rs and the i r deeds
I tit t
f t/ L a w f S t l d by J oh n E rsk i n e P
of S co tti sh L w i n t he U n i vers i t y of E d i n burg h 7 7 3
f
Tl E i o g/ P/ il p / i l j
l t he p ubl i ca ti o n of
w h i ch had j us t be g u n

ns

es o

s o

co

a n

e ss o r

ze

ie

u r

os o

z ca

o u rn a

ro
.

1819

T O AI R

RO BER T

MI

TCHELL

251

from H ipparch us to M al us i ncl us i ve i n a pom

pous styl e som ewh at i n G ibbo n s v ei n exce p t

that G ibbon i s se l do m tawd ry Wal lace } who m
I wen t th is day to see i s a perso n about fty
years ol d short bald
headed w ith a gri m an d
i ntell igen t cou ntenance H is m an ner i s b l unt
h e speaks w ith a S co tch accen t an d i f h is
u naffected and patien t demeanou r i s a e com
a n ie d with a d ispl ay o f p h iloso p h i cal reect io n
p
wh ich I can not assert o r deny h e ought
s urely to be a great favou rite wi th th e publ ic
L esl ie an d h e are sai d to be o n the eve o f battle
fo r th e E lem ents o f Geometry and cu rves o f
the second o rde r are to be d iscarded fo r P lay
fai r s E ucl id ! L ove m e love m y dog th e s a w
says sti ll more S houl d i t s a y love m e love my
book S cience yo u s e e as wel l as rel igio n is
at t imes d is tu rbed by th e feuds o f i ts p ro fessors
What h ave we to say bu t w ish these wo rth ies a
fai r el d and n o favo ur ?
,

[Yo u

Et

n o s/ ru

vi lu la

er v

m in t

tu

gu u s

a z

os

ta

cl

Me

n /a s co m

m
u
/

e re

rofessor \Villi m \V ll
pp o i nt ed i n
of M a t he m a ti cs i n t he U n i vers i t y of E d i n bu rg h
1

a ce, a

lites

1 8 19
.

rofessor

2 52

LE TTERS O F

TH O/W A S

CARL YLE

18 19

B u t I m ust qu i t these l ucub rat ions tel l me

ve ry soo n what p rogress you make i n C romb ie ;
g ive m e an o rder to get you Lip s iu s e i ther o f
the S c a lige rs C asaubon o r th e never dy i ng
E rn e s t i and I S hal l obey you w i th i m mense
cheerful ness S eri ously though I th i nk you r
study o f class i cal l iterature l ikely to b ene t you
I t i s not enough to pu rsu e ph ilosophy th rough
all her i ntri cate recesses we m ust h ave a trade
s i nce we hav e no fortun e A nd a l though we
have qu itted o ne p rofess ion i n wh ich m any l ead
a tranqu il and o ne o r two a d ign i ed l i fe i t
m ay be we S h al l both yet h av e ou r w ishes
grati ed W ho k nows i ndeed but you b ei ng
P rofesso r o f H uman i ty I a t i red ca u s iclicn s
m ay del igh t to i nte rrupt you r eve n i ngs o f l iter
ary leisure and cal l to m i nd the days o f yore
E sp ero n s s a y I al ways ; and i n th e m ean tim e
I co ncl ude th i s sh eet and i ts mos t h u rried
conten ts w i th s ubscri b i ng myse l f once m ore
you r ol d and fai th ful frie nd
,

T H O M A S CAR LYLE
Lip s iu s is

here I m ean h is

Rom a A

t iq n a

TO

8 19

7 OH

CARL YLE

Y ou shall have i t i n su m m er soo ne r i f

l i ke Write im m ed iatel y
.

53

u
o
y

X L I I To J OH N
.

A C AR LYLE
.

M a in h ill

E DI N BUR G H D U S L D G INGS
Dece ber 8
3 5 B RI T S T R E E T
FF

S O

2a

M Y D E AR J A C K I am ve ry m uch s at ised

as may wel l b e supposed to hear that thou and

th e cattle got safely ho me though fai nt yet
perseveri ng I have o nl y to hope that noth i ng
s ustai ned any serious i nj ury by that adventu re
M os t p robabl y you are al ready com e hom e from
C umberland I t rust yo u and ou r cous i n (to
whom give m y bes t love ) we re pleased w ith
the beauti ful though at th is seaso n prostrate
aspect o f th at i nterest i ng cou nty Y o u h ave
no doub t res um ed you r occupations ; and at

th is hou r (s ix o clock ) I suppose are fo rm i ng

the c i rcle around you r cheerful re to teach
and to be tau g ht I n nocen t group ! peace be
wi th yo u al l !
,

I have very l i ttl e t i m e to ente r i nto part i e

LE TTERS O F

2 54

T H O/W A S

la rs

CARL YLE

18 19

about m y stud ies wh i ch i ndeed are yet

a la s !
h
ardly
begu
n
I
am
at
th
e
S
cots
l
aw
(
)
class ; and th e p rofessor (a nephew o f the
h is to ri an H um e ) is most p ersp icuous ; bu t law
i s to m e an u n trodden path an d m uch to il w il l
be requ is ite fo r m asteri ng it Y et I fear t/i a t
l ittle I have got fou r very ponderous quartos
o f notes taken from these l ectu res i n short
h and they prom ise to be o f m uch use to m e
I h av e read M illar on the E ngl ish govern
me nt etc
T he no tes came from H il l (m y
com rade for a part of last w i nte r ) : perhaps I
sh al l send these l etters i n th e box wh i ch o nce
hel d these lea rn ea p apers B ut I m us t h av e
done J ack R em ember m e i n the m ost ki nd
m an ner to M ag J em my M ary J ean and l i tt l e
J enny T e l l al l o f th em to wri te m e that can
write B e go oa to the m poor th i ngs S en d
m e a ll yo ur cop ies write cop iously (i n you r
l etter to m e ) ; an d be assu red that I remain
my dear B roth er yours m os t fai th ful ly
u

T H O MA S CAR LYL E

I have not ti me to se nd th e box 7 2% o clock

T O H IS

819

lI O TH E R

2 55

Y o u w ill sen d down th at great ugly I tal ian

boo k N a n i S tor ia a e lla Ve n ez ia along with
th e note to A n nan G e o rdy is to sen d m e a
book o f the S cots A cts o f P arl iame nt : you
will pu t i t i n the box

X L I I I To
.

h is

M OT H E R

E D IN BURG H
3 5 B R IS T o

S T R EET

M a in h ill

U FF S

Sl/t

DGIN G S
Decem be 1 8 1 9
LO

T
D
E
AR
M
H
E
R
N oth i ng co uld give m e
MY
O
greate r pl easu re than to learn th at you con ti nue
i n good heal th and are im prov i ng even i n that
part icul ar I entreat you fo r the sake o f us all
to be care ful o f th is i nval uable priv ilege I t
i s th e fou ndat ion o f ev ery earthl y bless i ng
W ith i t and a clear consci ence no hu man
c reatu re need i n g eneral be m iserable
Y ou
wil l be sat ised to l earn that I am v ery well
By tak i ng a p ro p e r degree o f ex ercise m y
bod ily fram e I nd m ay be mad e to do i ts
duty p retty wel l ; and acco rd i n g l y I make a
p oi n t to d iv ide th e da y betwee n s tudy and
wal k i ng I t i s th e m ore necessary as wh en I
,

L E TTER S O F

2 56

TH O /IIA S

A RL YLE

18 19

neglect i t the dark S ide o f my affai rs never

fails to p resen t i tsel f to m y sol i tary i magi na
t ion an d I am as u n t fo r s tudy as fo r y i ng
U po n the whole howeve r I go cou rageo u sl y
alo ng ; and to beat th e hoo f hal f an hou r be fore
breakfas t an d an hou r before e nteri ng th e l aw
class at two o r rather hal f past o ne is qu i te
su f cien t to keep m e i n good heart T he l aw
I n d to be a m ost compl i cated subj ect ; yet I
l i ke i t p retty well and feel th at I sh al l l ike i t
better as I proceed It s great charm i n my
eyes is that n o mean compl ian ces are requ is ite
fo r prosperi ng i n i t I m ust strugg l e an d solace
mysel f wi th th e del ightful hope that the day
w ill yet com e whe n I m ay S how you al l what
se nse I entertai n of you r affectionate co nduct
T he cakes are excelle nt and mos t accept
able
I th i n k you m ust have left o ut o ne
sock : at l east I can nd but th ree i n the box
Y o u n eed not take al l th is tro ubl e o n you
about these art i c l es I h ave plenty of socks
I know not whom to thank for the h am doubt
l ess i t will do m e good serv i ce
I have not
yet fai rly arranged the newspaper not hav i ng
,

819

A LEXA ND ER CA RL YLE

TO

2 57

looked for the carrie r so soon

I shall tell
you fully about i t when h e ret u rns W rite to
m e very cop iously wh enever you can n d as
m u ch t i me I trus t my dear M othe r we s/z a ll
ye t ag ree i n al l th i ngs B ut absol ute sameness
o f op i n io n upo n any po i nt is not as I h av e o ften
sai d to be l ooked fo r i n th is l ow erri ng world
E xcuse my brev i ty an d bel i ev e m e to be m y
dear M othe r eve r you rs m os t affectio nately
.

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

M y com p l i men ts to M argaret : s h e m ust

wri te before the m il k ing hou r anothe r t i me
M y father I t rust i s well thou g h yo u say
noth i n g o f h i m
.

X L I V T o

A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE

E D I N BU RG H

SI/t

M a in h ill
.

Dece m ber

8 19

MY

D E A R A L IC R
Y ou w il l be g lad to
l earn that I am well and com fo rtable
I attend
the l aw class w i th some sat is fact ion and read
a book cal l ed li rs k in e s I n st it u te s u p o n the same
T h is E rsk ine s I n s t it u tes would wei g h abou t
.

VOL

c
.

LE TTERS O F

2 58

TH O/II A S

CARL YLE

8 19

fou r sto nes av o i rdu p o i s ; and you wo ul d th i nk

the very Goddess o f d ul ness h ad i nspi red ev ery
se ntence Y et I proceed w ithout fai nti ng I
go l i kew ise o ccasio nally to th e P arl i am en t
H ouse an d hear th e pl ead i ngs I i m a g i ne it
woul d no t b e d i f cul t to demol i sh certai n per
sons whom I s e e gai n a l ivel i hood by pl ead i ng
the re I n th e m eant im e i t behoves m e to l iv e
i n hope and m ake every effort
T here i s
noth i ng n ew h ere al m ost S ome t i morous in
div idu a ls abou t Glasgow i m agi ned that the
R ad icals (as th ei r can t name i s ) i ntended to
ris e
o n M o nday las t ; an d acco rd i ngl y o n
S atu rday al l th e sold i ers were sent from E d i n
b urgh and J ock s L odge ; ou r v olunteers took
possess io n of t he C as tl e an d there was rid i ng
ru n n i ng m arch i ng an d cou nte r m arch i ng i n
every d i rect io n
I s a w th e yeom e n s e t o ut o n
S u nday mo rn i ng T h i s was ve ry gall an t and
the v e thousand sold iers that su rrou nded
G lasgow we re I doubt not very gallant fellows ;
but th e R ad i cal s st a cte to t/z e ir lo o m s A moun
tai n was o nce i n l abo ur and w h en al l m e n h ad
.

B arracks i n t h e n e ig hbourhoo d

T O A L E X A I VD E R

8 19

CARL YLE

2 59

com e to see the issue a m ouse was born S o

i s i t wi th the rebell io n i n th e wes t and the
ve and t wen ty thousan d m en i n arm s th at
were to m u rder al l h is M aj esty s l ieges i n
L anarksh i re
I am very vexed that you s e e
.

m i sery of t he \Y ork i ng C lasses i n E ng la n d a n d S co t

la n d t t h i s p er i o d ma d e a las ti ng i m p ress i o n o n C arl yle T h
co n d i ti o n a n d d i s p os i ti o n of t hese p eo p le al ready be g a n t o
seem t o h i m as he sa i d t w e nt y years la t er i n h i s C/ t i m

t he mos t om i n ous of all p rac ti cal ma tt ers w ha t ever A

p assa g e fro m h i s R m im
5 ) l ls ou t t he n arra t i o n
(i
i n t h i s le tt er
Y ear 8 9 comes back i nt o my m i n d as t he
year of t he R ad i cal r i s i ng i n G las g o w a n d t he k i n d of (al t o
g e t her i ma gin ary) g h t t hey a tt em pt ed o n B ym i a g a i n s t
t he Y eoma n y w h i ch ha d asse m bled from far a n d w i d e A ti me
of g rea t ra g es a n d absurd t errors a n d ex p ec t a ti o n s a very erce
Rad i cal a n d A n ti Rad i cal ti m e
E d i n burg h e n d lessl y a gi t a t e d
ll rou n d me by i t n o t t o m e nti o n G las g o w i n t h e d i s t a n ce ;
g e nt ry p eo p le ful l of zeal a n d fool i sh t error a n d fury a n d loo k
i ng d i s g us ti ng l y busy a n d i m p or t a nt C our i er hussars w ould
come i n from t he G las g o w re gi o n covered w i t h m d brea t hless
for headquar t ers as you t ook your w alk i n Pr i n ces S t ree t ;
a n d you w oul d hear ol d p o w dered g e nt le m e n i n s i lver
s p ec t acles t alk i ng w i t h l w t o n ed bu t exul t a n t vo i ce abou t
cord o n of t roo p s s i r as you w e nt alo n g T h m ass of t he
p eo p le n o t t h p o p ulace alo n e had a qu i t e d i ffe e n t fee l i n g
as i f t he da ng er from t hose \Ves t
s m a l l or
t y R ad i cal s w
i m a gi n ary a n d t he i r g i eva n ces d read fu l l y eal w h i ch w
w i t h e m p has i s my
w
p oor p i t n o ti o n of i t O bleare d
S u n day mo n i n g p e ha p s seve n or e ig h t M I had g o n e ou t
for my w alk A t t he R i d i n g H ouse i n N i co l so n S t ree t w a
k i n d of s t ragg ly g rou p or s m all cro wd w i t h edcoa t s i nt er
1

The

za r

'

scen ces

on n

-c o

trn

'

a s

r t a

ne

a s

a s

LE TTER S

2 60

OF

CA RL YLE

T/ I OAI A S

18 19

no news p a p e r at th i s n ro s t i nteres ti ng period

I m ust t ry to get a S c ots m a n som e way ; fo r I
S ee no ne m ysel f except whe n I g o to th e book
seller s shop wh ich i s very u nsatisfactory Y ou
h av e not sent me any copy yet I hope you co n
t in u e to write and also to m i nd you r spell i ng
H o w does H um e go forward
I expect a
s p ersed C om i ng u p I p erce i ve d i t w t he L o t h i a n Y
y
(M id or E as t I k n o w n o t ) j us t g e tti ng u n d er w y for G las g o w t o
be p ar t of t he cordo n I hal t e d a mo m e nt T hey t ook t he
road very i ll ra n ke d n o t n umerous or very d a ng erous look i ng
me n of w ; bu t t here rose from t he l i tt le cro wd by w y of
fare wel l cheer t o t hem t he s t ra ng es t shou t I have hear d
h uma n t h roa t s u tt er ; n o t very lou d or lou d eve n for t he smal l
n umbers ; bu t i t sa i d as p la i n as w ords a n d w i t h in ni t el y
more em p has i s of s i n cer i t y M y t he D ev i l g o w i t h y ye
p ecul i arly co nt em pti ble a n d d ea d t o t he d i s t resses f your
fello w crea t ures !
A n o t her m or ni ng mo nt hs aft er p r i ng
a n d su n w co m e a n d t he cor d o n e t c ll over I me t a
g e nt lema n a n a d voca t e sl ig h t ly of my acqua i nt a n ce hurry i ng
alo ng m uske t i n ha n d t o w ar d s t he L i n ks t here t o be dr i lle d as
Y
a n i t e m of t he g e n t leme n volu nt eers w afoo t
shoul d have t he l i ke of t h i s sa i d he cheer i ly p a tt i ng h i s
m uske t
H m yes ; bu t I have n t ye t qu i t e se tt le d o n w h i ch
i de w h i ch p robabl y he ho p e d w qu i z t hou g h i t really
ex p ressed my feel i ng I rv ing t oo a n d ll of us j u n i ors had
t h e sa m e feel i ng i n d i ffere nt i nt e n s i ti es a n d s p oke n o n ly t o
o n e a n o t her a se n se t ha t revol t ag a i n s t such a loa d of
verac i ti es i m p os t u res a n d qu i e t ly i n a n e formal i ti es w oul d o n e
d ay become i n d i s p e n sable se n se w h i ch ha d a k i n d of rash
false a n d quas i i n sole nt joy i n i t m u ti n y revol t be ing a l ig h t
m a tt er t o t he you ng
.

eor
n a nr

a s

ar

ou

n o

no

ou

a s

u n

CA RL YLE

T O A L E X A IVD E R

819

26 1

lo ng account o f everyth i ng fro m yo u whe n you

wri te next I do not th i nk o f leav i ng E di n
burgh du ri ng th e vacatio n at C h ristm as I
shall stay an d read o r w ri te rath er B el i ev e
m e to be my d ear B rother you rs mos t faith fully
.

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

I forgot to se nd you r m oney las t t im e I

S h all (u nl ess th is h u rry m isl ead m e ) se nd you
four notes th is j ourney
I bel ieve th e debt is
somewhat less bu t I o we J ack someth i n g ; and
the remai n der you can gi ve m y M other fo r
sh i rts etc retai n i ng a few s h ill i ngs to buy m e
tobacco from t i m e to t i m e K ee p i t very wet
th e tobac co I m ean
.

X LV To
.

A LE XA N D E R C AR LYL E
E D I N B U RG H

MY

ZQ I/t

M a in h ill

Dece b er
m

18 19

D E A R B RO I IIE R
I said I shoul d stay
i n E d i nbu rg h duri n g th e C h ri stmas hol idays ;
bu t ha pp il y m y rm ness i n th is dete rm i nation
was not p u t to the test O u r p ro fe s s o r gives n o
li o lia a ys ; so at the p r e se n t fest i ve season we
'

LE TTERS

2 62

T H O/II A S

OF

CA RL YLE

1 8 19

are labouri ng w i th ou r wo nted ass id uity i n the

com plex study o f L aw I have not yet gai ned
m uch k nowledge of i t : b ut he (M r H um e ) is
very p lai n h i th erto an d by th e help o f th ose
monstrous tomes w i th wh ic h I am e nv i roned
there is l i ttl e doubt th at I m ay i n t i m e acqui re
competen t i n format io n upo n all the bran ches o f
th is sci en ce I have not been s o d il igen t o f
late o n accou nt o f a paper I am w ri ti ng wh i ch
I h ave a des ign to o ffer fo r pub l i catio n
No
mo rtal is aware o f i t so you need not m ent io n
th e c i rcumstan ce : bu t I can s e e we l l enough
that to th is po i nt m y ch ief efforts S houl d be
d i rected
I n fact u n l ess m y pen wil l afford m e
p resent s ubs istence what hope have I i n L aw ?

I ough t to try at least and I shal l tell you th e

i ssue o f my trial whe n i t happens Y et i f these
schemes shoul d fail I need not stil l despai r
T each i ng and p reach i ng are th e onl y trades
that I h ave forsworn and i t wi ll be hard very
hard i f a h um ble m an can not earn h is b it of
bre a a i n a n yother department o f art or science
I will not despai r no r even despond
In the m eanti me i t i s p l easant to have these
.

1 82 0

TO

ALEXA NDER CA RL YLE

2 63

few hard earned notes by me to answe r ev ery

exigency E conomy an d d il ige nce will go far
i n al l cases
I rem ai n m y dear B rother
yo u rs most fai th ful l y
T H O MA S C A PLY LE
-

X L V I T o
.

A LE X A N D E R C AR LYLE
E D IN BURG H

2 6t /i

M a in h ill

ja n u a ry

820

M Y D E AR B R O T H E R

I was very h appy to

learn by the carri er s arriv al som e hou rs ago
that you were all i n a s tate o f heal th and
motion at th e p eriod o f h is de p artu re Y ou
w il l be sat ised i n you r turn to h ear that I am
st il l afoot notwi thstand i n g th e l ate tremendous
reign of frost wh ich seemed e nough to dest roy
e very sym p to m o f an i mal o r ve g etabl e l i fe O f
a ll the k i nds o f weathe r that i n m y l i feti me have
descended from the p i til ess N o rth the t ract
wh ich i s j ust e nded appears to h ave bee n the
m ost a pp all i n g \Vh a t w i th i ce and s no w and
bi ti n g b reezes E d i nbu rg h seem ed to be the
ca p i tal o f G ree nl and rathe r th an o f C al edo n ia
l o t the thaw h a s com e at l ast and l h av e g one
th rou g h th e p rocess o f freez i n g wi thout an y in

LE TTERS

2 64

OF

CA RL YL E

TH O/II A S

820

conven ie nce exce p t a l thy s n ivell i ng col d

wh i ch I p icked up last S aturday and wh ich I
expect to lay down to morrow o r nex t day I t
m ay last a week i f i t w ill fo r i t gi ves m e very
s mall i nco nv en ie nce
Y ou r long l etter grat ied m e not a l ittle
Y ou r are by far too sev ere a cri ti c o f you r o wn
prod uct ions T he accou nt o f you r j o urney to
C u mberl and was repl ete w i th am us i ng not ices
I can perfectly con ce iv e the feel i ngs exc ited by
you r s ituation at \N o rk in gt o n upo n be i ng re
fused ad m ittance a t C u rw e n s A rm s I t is at
s uch a t i m e that the dogged s tubborn se ntim en t
o f obdured pat ience (too n early al l ied to i l l
natu re i n som e other cases ) i s really val uable
O ne has ofte n roo m to use i t i n th e bus i ness of
l i fe Y ou h a v e now partly seen C umberland ;
and though at a t i me of d isadvantage you r
j ou rn ey wil l not be al together frui tless : the
rem embrance o f S kiddaw and th e wi l d m ou n
tai ns that have frowned s i nce the creation s
dawn besi de h i m i s a pleas i ng subj ect fo r the
m i n d to res t o n and ev e n th e s igh t o f the rude
but honest hearted boors that i n hab i t those
,

82 0

ALEXA ND ER CA RL YLE

TO

2 65

re g ions and the com p arison o f the i r ways o f

th i nk ing and acti ng w ith o u r own is al ways
attended wi th enj oym ent and m ight be with
advantage
I am truly glad to n d that yo u perseve re
i n H um e T he remarks you m ake upo n th e
various characters of whom he treats seem j ust
as far as I ca n rem ember
N or can I blam e
you r enthus iasm at th e nam e o f Wallace or h im
o f B an nockbu rn T hose h eroes s too d i n the
b reach when the i r coun try was i n peril ; that
S cotl and i s not as I rel an d i s perhaps owi ng i n
a great measu re to th e i r exert io ns A s you
p roceed i n the narrati ve the ev ents w ill becom e
mo re i nteresti n g ; an d you w ill have m ore occa
s io n to b e o n you r g uard a g ai nst M r H ume s
p ropens ities to To ry ism N e xt t i me you wri te
In P t d P
T h i s t hou g h t ema i n ed w i t h C arl yle
6)
A hero i c \V ll
8 4 3 he w ro t e (p
t p ubl i shed i n
quar t ered o n t he scaffold ca nn o t h i n der t ha t h i s S co t la n d b
come o n e day a p ar t of E ng la n d bu t he does h i n der t ha t i t
become o n t )
u n fa i r t e m s a p a t of i t
If t h e
u ni o n w i t h E n g la n d be i n f c t o n e of S co t la n d s ch i ef bless i n g s
w t ha n k W allace w i t hal t ha t i t w
n o t t he ch i ef curse S co t
la n d i s n o t I ela n d n o because bra e m rose t here a n d
sa i d B ehol d ye m us t n o t t rea d us do w n l ke slaves ; d ye
shall n o t a n d ca nn o t
,

se n

a s

a n

a ce,

ra n n o u s

a s

en

a n

LE TTERS

2 66

CA RL YLE

TH OllI A S

OF

1 820

I S h al l expect to hear ab ou t S u rrey an d Wo l sey

E l izabeth Ra l eigh D rake etc B efo re co n
clud i ng I w ill agai n take th e l ib erty to adv ise
you to b e very careful of you r wri ti ng Y ou r
spel l ing i s m aterially im proved a l ittl e fu rther
care w ill m ake i t qu ite perfect
Y o ur fears abou t my h eal th are ve ry o b lig
i ng ; though qu ite u n necessary at th e present
I n fact I am general ly i n v ery fai r h eal th an d

I do not study at al l too severely

i ndeed not
d il igentl y e nough I fear F o r som e t im e back
I h ave been employed a part of each n ight i n
wri ti ng a paper for th e E a in ba rgb R e view I
at las t gav e i t i n l ast M o nday in a l etter to
F ran cis J effrey E s q des i ri ng h i m to se nd i t
back i f i t d id not su it th e p u rpose I h ave yet
g ot no answe r I ndeed I should not b e su r
prised if i t were not accepted : i t w a s writte n
,

A fuller accou nt of t h i s a tt em pt i s gi ve n i n t he Rem in t

It w
cen ce (i i
s t i ll some e ig h t or t e n years before
a n y p erso n al co n t ac t occurred be t wee n J effre y a n d me n or d i d
I ever t ell h i m w ha t a bi tt er p assa g e k n o w n t o o n ly o n e p ar t y
t here had bee n be t wee n us It w p robably i n 8 9 or 8
t( he col des t w i nt er I ever k n e w ) t ha t I had t ake n a mos t p r i va t e
resolu ti o n a n d execu t ed i t i n s p i t e of p hys i cal a n d o t her m i sery
t o t ry J effrey w it h a n ac t ual co nt r i bu ti o n t o t he Edin b urgh
1

a s

as

20

A LEXA ND ER CARL YLE

TO

82 0

2 67

o n a v e ry d ry subj ect ; and I was no t at th e

t i m e i n m y ha p piest mood fo r wri ti ng well
B ut i f (as is very l ikely ) i t be retu rned upo n
.

i d ea seemed g rea t a n d m ig h t be t r i e d t hou g h

n early d es p era t e I ha d g o t hol d some w here (for eve n books
w ere al l bu t i n access i ble t o me ) of a fool i sh e n ou g h bu t
w
F re n ch book a mecha n i cal Tb
elabora t ely
y f G v i t ti
w orke d ou t by a la t e fool i sh M Pi c t e t (I t h i n k t ha t w
t he
n ame ) i n G e n eva T h i s I carefully read j u d g e d of a n d ela
b
t ly d i c t a t e d a ca n d i d accou nt a n d co n dem n a ti o n of or
modes t ly rm co nt rad i c t i o n of (my ama n ue n s i s a cer t a i n feeble
bu t e n qu i r i ng quas i d i sc i p le of m i n e calle d G eorg e D al g le i sh of
A nn a n from w ho m I ke pt m y ul t er i or p u r p ose qu i t e secre t )
W el l do I ye t remember t hose dreary eve ni ng s i n B r i s t o S t ree t ;
oh w ha t g has t ly p assa g es a n d d i s m al success i ve s p asms of
a tt em pt a t L i t erary E nt er p r i se H tii S l g p / i w i t h
p oor H x V
i nt e n de d for so m e g has t ly
i S o le v i
L fe of t he sa i d H x t h i s for o n e o t her i n s t a n ce I read
ll S aussure s four quar t os of T a vel i S w it
l
d t oo (a n d
s ti ll reme m ber m uch of i t ) I k n o w n o t w i t h w ha t objec t I
w
ba n i shed sol i t ary as i f t o t he bo tt om of a cave a n d bl i n dly
ha d t o t ry ma n y i m p oss i ble roads ou t M y i w f Pi t t
g ood c l erk ha n d I
ll fa i rly w r i tt e n ou t i n ( l
g D lgl i h
p e nn ed some br i ef p ol i t e n o t e t o t he g rea t E d i t or a n d w alked
off w i t h t he s m al l p arcel
n i g h t t o h i s address i n G eorg e
S t ree t I very w el l re m e m ber le i n g i t w i t h h i s vale t t here
a n d d i sa pp ea i n g i n t h e n i g h t w i t h var i ous t hou g h t s a n d doub t s !
bu t for
M y ho p es ha d n ever r i se n h i g h or i n f c t i se n a t al l
a for tnig h t or so t hey d i d n o t qu it e d i e ou t a n d t he n i t w
absolu t e e o ; n o a n s wer n o re t u r n of M S absolu t el y n o
o ti ce t ake n w h i ch w a form of ca t as t ro p he m ore co m p le t e
t ha n eve n I had a nti c i p a t ed
T here rose i n m y head a
p u ng e n t l i tt l e n o t e w h i ch m i g h t be w r i tt e n t o t he g rea t ma n
Re vi e w

Th e

ne

eor

ra

on

a s

o ra

e rc

o rro

en u s

o rro

sa

z a

ra

e en o

z er a n

a s

re v e

eor e

c e

e s

one

nt

a s

a s

L E TTERS

2 68

OF

TI I OI II A S

CA RL YLE

1 82 0

m e I shall not take i t greatl y to h eart We

can try a g ai n u pon a m ore p rom i si ng th em e
N o m ortal bu t you k nows o f i t ; s o I shal l not
feel abashed at th e failu re of an attem pt wh ich
was ho nest i n i ts natu re and wil l be u nk now n
i n i ts co nsequences to any except friends I
shal l tel l you th e res ul t n ext l etter Y o u do
well to read the S c ots m a n
Y o u will nd i n i t
a cons iderabl e quant i ty of i nfo rm atio n an d by
comb i n i ng i t w i th th e Co u rie r (of the M an
ch ester p a p e r I k now l ittl e ) you w ill be abl e to
w i t h n ea t l y cu tti ng co n s i d era ti o n s offere d h i m from t he smal l
u n k n o w n d i tt o bu t I w i sely j u d g e d i t w s ti ll more d ign i e d
t o le t t he ma t t er l i e as it w a n d t ake w ha t I ha d g o t for m y
w
be n e t o n l y N or d i d I ever me nt i o n i t t o almos t a n y
bod y leas t f ll t o J e ffrey i n subseque nt cha ng ed t i mes w he n
a t a n y ra t e i t w falle n ex t i n c t I t w my seco n d n o t qu i t e
my rs t a tt e m pt i n t ha t fash i o n Above t w years before
fro m K i rkcaldy I ha d for warded t o some ma g az i n e e d it or i n
E d i n burg h w ha t p erha p s w a l i kel i er li tt le ar ti cle (of d e
scr i pti ve t our i s t k i n d aft er a real t our by Y arro w cou nt ry int o
A nn a n dale ) w h i ch also va n i she d w i t hou t ign ; n o t m uch t o
m y re g re t t ha t rs t o n e n or i n d ee d very m uch t he seco n d
e i t her (a dull affa i r al t o g e t her I coul d n o t bu t a d m i t ) a n d n o
t h i rd adve nt ure of t he k i n d lay ahead for me I t mus t be
o w n ed m y firs t e nt ra n ces i nt o g lor i ous L it era t ure w ere
abu n da nt l y s ti nt e d a n d p i ti ful ; bu t a ma n d oes e nt er i f eve n
w i t h a s m al l gi ft he p ers i s t ; a n d p erha p s i t i s n o di d
va n t a g e if t he door be several t i mes slamme d i h i s face as a
p rel i m i n ary
,

a s

a s,

a s

a s

as

sa

To

1 820

OH N

CA R L YL

2 69

form som e idea of the s tate o f th e coun try

wh ich at th is t im e has an aspec t particularly
strik i ng I n case I shoul d forget to do i t else
whe re I m ust beg yo u to tell the S uto r th at I
can not get the S cots m a n t ill h e sen d m e an
order i n writ i ng to that effect I may h ave i t
next j ou rne y B el ie ve m e to be you r affection
ate B roth er
T H O MA S CAR LY LE
,

X L V I I I o J O II N

A C AR LYLE
.

E D IN BURGH

2 6t/i

M a in h ill

ja n u a ry

820

M Y D E A R J A CK I have read over you r letter

w i th great sati s factio n ; and I devote th e S hort

wh ile wh ich yet rem ai ns before Geo rd ie s de
p artu re to scribble th is h al f shee t by way o f
reply to i t I ou g h t i n th e rst p lace to ask
your p ardon fo r rn is dire c t in g yo u abou t the L ati n
book you we re to read T h e vol um e i n q ues
tio n i s not I nd at M a in h ill bu t here : I shal l
se n d i t down i n the box and i f you can m anage
it well ; i f not send m e wo rd and I shal l no t
fail to g et you anothe r ed i tio n o f it wi th notes

LE TTERS

2 70

OF

TH OII/A S

CA RL YLE

and a glossary w h ich you wi ll nd qu i te

,

l
ib
e
g

8 20

in t e lli

Y o u do wel l to p roceed with th e L ati n : i t

can i n n o case be qu i te useless to you ; i t may
ev entually be of g reat serv i ce
T he u nder
stand i ng o f o ne s own Ton g ue i s at al l t imes an
i mportant m atter ; and no way is s o com pletely
ef cie nt fo r that pu rpose as the study of L at i n
wh i ch i t is m ai nl y grounded o n and derived
from B ut parti cularly atte n d to you r penm an
sh i p ; negl ec t no n i g h t to wri te a copy l onger
or sh orter I app roved very m uch of your re
marks upo n D av i d H u m e S andy tell s m e that
yo u an d he are i n th e h ab i t o f attend i ng ch iey
to th e m an ners O p i n io ns an d general features
o f th e d iffere n t periods wh i ch you read abou t
T h is i s th e t rue way of p roceed i ng i n the s tudy
of h istory
I t i s good su rel y because i t i s
pleas i ng to k now abou t batt l es and s ieges and
s uch m atters an d these th i ngs ought carefully
to be s tored up i n t he m i nd ; but a perso n who
gathers n o t/t ing m o re from the an nal s o f a nat ion
is no t m uch wi ser than o ne wh o s houl d treasu re
up the straw o f a th resh i ng o o r and leave th e
.

1 82 0

TO

7 OH

CA RL YLE

27 1

grai n beh i nd Y ou are ri g h t to attend to dates ;

do not neglect the geography o f the cou ntries
I n a short wh i le yo u w ill nd so m e o f you r ol d
friends who m yo u m et w ith i n C/za rles V I
am very glad that A l i ck and yo u are go i ng
fai rly to get th ro u g h H ume i t i s a task wh i ch
v ery few accom pl ish notwi thstand i n g its pleas
a n t n e s s an d util ity
N o on e w ithout i t can be
sai d to u nderstan d th e rs t p ri nciples o f the
l aws ch u rch govern ment o r m an ners of h is ow n
cou ntry
T h ere i s noth i ng n ew h ere ; at l eas t noth i ng
that p enetrates m y secl uded abode T he com
mon p eopl e are i n g reat d istress ; tho ugh fo r
several reaso ns that d istress is l ess severel y fel t
he re than i n m an u factu ri n g d istricts T he sub
s t a n t ia l bu rghers and oth e r i dl e loyal ists o f the
p l ace are trai n i n g themsel ves to the use o f arm s
fo r th e p u rpose o f su pp ress i n g th e i ma g i nary
revol ts o f the lowe r o rde rs W he n I m eet o ne
o f those he ro i c pe rsona g e s w i th h is buff bel ts
h i s cartouche box and w e a p ons o f war obstruct
i n g th e p ro g ress o f h is M aj esty s subj ects along
the streets I can scarce s u pp ress a bi tter sm i le
.

LE TTERS

272

OF

TITO/IIA S

CA RL YLE

8 20

at the sel sh ness and stup id i ty o f m en

In

fact s teel p ills thou g h a ve ry natu ral are

a very i neffectual rem edy for a decayed con

.

s t it u t io n

Y o u mus t w ri te at great l ength n ext time

se nd m e al l the news i n any degree or e v en
no degree i nteresti ng
M i nd you r read i ng
that is an accoun t o f i t for m y i nspection
I am m y dear B rothe r you rs affect ionately

T H O S CAR LYLE
.

X LV I I I To
.

h is

M OT H E R

E D INBURGH

2 6t/z

fa n u a ry

820

D E AR M OT H E R T hough you h av e not

favoured m e w i th a l i ne th is g reat wh i le yet
as I h av e still a few m i nutes l eft I take th e
opportu n i ty thu s afforded m e o f se nd i ng you
som e sm al l accou nt o f m y proceed i ngs
Y ou will doubtless th i nk m e a v ery t rus t
l ess p erso n fo r tak i n g no farthe r notice o f the
P/i ila n tb rop ic Ga z e tte wh i ch I p rom i sed to
get for you T h e t ruth i s th e poo r d ri vell i n g
bookselle r abo ut who m I s p oke ham pered and
MY

820

T O H IS

III O TH E R

273

hum med s o p i teousl y l ast ti me I b roached the

s ubj ect that I took compass io n o n h is i nde
c is io n and l eft th e subj ect at rest
I am very
sorry that you shou l d b e d isappoi nted I n th i s
m atter ; but after a ll I do not th i n k v ery
h ighly o f the gazette i n quest io n and th e
R ep osito ry s eem s to be a better book i n s everal
respects I f you want any p ubl i catio n that I can
p rocu re do not fai l to tell m e and i t shal l be
forthcom i ng A nyt/z ing that I can eve r do to
serve yo u m ust l i e far beh i nd what I have
owe d to you s i nce the earl iest days o f m y
ex i stence
Th e cakes you sent cam e i n good season
the i r p redecessors hav i ng bee n co ncl uded two
o r th ree days ago I was also glad to s e e th e
b utter ; for th e rs t excelle nt p ot cam e to an
end soo n after F a rrie s l ast v i s i t to th i s c ity
Th e s tuff wh i ch they sel l here u nde r the nam e
o f butte r has fe w t i tles o ften to that ho nou r
able e p i thet T h e m ai n i n g red ient i s sea sal t ;
the rest a yel low sou r tasted s ubs tance wh ich
whethe r i t eve r actuall y ex isted i n the sha p e
o f m il k I can not dete rm i n e
I a m l i kewi se
,

VO L

2 74

LE TTERS

OF

CARL YLE

TH O/W A S

1820

obl iged by th e p ieces o f meat : b ut though I

hav e sent home th e m eal poke i ts conte n ts are
not exhausted a po rt io n o f them y et rem ai ns
i n some j ar o r othe r for futu re co nsum pt ion
H av i ng now d iscussed these smal l m atters
I m ust p roceed to m ake so me i nqu i ries about
you r actual s ituation A nd rst o f heal th
I
e ntreat you m y dear M other to be careful of
that greates t o f bl ess i ngs
D o n ot ex pose
you rsel f o n any accou n t i n th is i ntem perate
weath er : you are not calculated to s tan d i t
I ndeed it s effects are pern i c ious to any o ne ;
but m uch m ore to on e i n you r S i tuat ion When
I
expect
to
hear
very
m
i
nutely
about
u write
o
y
eve ry th i ng p ertai n i ng to you D o you eve r
recol lect ou r even i ng m eal s i n the l i ttle room
d u ri ng the l ast to m e u nusual bu t not u nhappy
?
sum m er
I h ave al ready told the c a lla n ts that I am
i n a g ood S tate o f heal th therefo re I need not
enlarg e upon th is poi nt
M y way o f l i fe is
very s i mpl e I s e e few acquai ntances ; those
I m igh t see are no t wi thout good qual i ti es but
B oys
-

1 820

CARL YLE

T O A LE X A A D E R

273

thei r convers at io n can not be net m e g reatly :

so I devote m y t i me to read i n g al l but two o r
th ree d ifferent portio ns o f i t wh i ch are da ilv
spen t i n wal k i ng W hether I shal l s ucceed i n
th i s u ndertak i ng of law must depen d o n sev eral
c i rcumstan ces P rov idence as you have often
tol d m e will regulate them M ean wh il e l et no
mal ignant perso n pu t you i n fear about m y
future desti ny W ith heal th wh ich I hope to
enj o y and w ith a frugal d ispos itio n w h ic h I
am p retty su re of enj oyi ng there is no room
to fear Y ou m ust wri te to m e wh enever you
can nd ti me R em ember m e to m y F athe r
and al l the rest about home
I remai n m y
dear M othe r you rs most affect io natel y
.

T H O S CAR LYLE
.

X L I X To
.

A LE XA N D E R C AR LY LE
E IN BURG H
D

MY

I AR

M a in h ill
.

I s / Il/ a rc/i

B RO T H E R O n e

8 20

o f th e rst obj ects

wh ich sal uted m y eyes th i s m orn i n g o n sally
i n g fo rth to take th e usual walk was th e wel
com e g u re o f G eo rg e F a rrie s B ut though
D J

LE TTERS

2 76

OF

TH OIIIA S

CARL YLE

1 820

th is d il igen t way fari ng m an p rom ised to send

my box to m e w i thout loss o f t i me ; and though
I d id actual ly get i t o n perso nal appl icat io ns
bei ng repeated about eleven o clock ; yet s o
m any small engageme nts have i nte rvened that
twil igh t h as arriv ed befo re I am abl e to com
m ence m y repl y to you r l etter
I hav e not bee n altogeth er idle though m y
efforts h av e bee n d i rected to tri i ng obj ects
T he L i fe o f M o ntesqu ieu was del ivered to
B rewste r S atu rday go ne a week and o ne o f
th e s m al l e ngagem ents all uded to above was
th e conc l ud i ng o f L ady M ary Wo rtley M o n
tagu s L i fe wh i ch l i ttl e George D alg l eish
n ished copy i ng for m e about an hou r ago
T h e two will occupy som e ve o r s ix pages
I am also to wri te the L i fe o f D r M oore h is
so n S i r
J oh n M oore N elson etc etc
I do
not ge t o n v ery qu i ckly i n these operat ions ;
but th is is l ike m y app renticesh i p as i t were ;
i n t i m e I shal l do i t far mo re read ily 5 0 soo n
as I can se ize upon any th i ng t to be employed
w ith a book to translate o r the l i ke wh ich I
J ob w ork for t he E di b gh E y l p ti
,

u r

nc

c o

a c

1 82 0

T O A L E X A YD E R
I

CA RL YLE

277

am not altogether wi thou t hopes o f doi ng I

S hall h ie to A nnandale to i nhale m y nat iv e
breezes o nce agai n L ast su m mer s res idence
the re d i d m e a worl d o f goo d : another su m m er
s o spen t woul d e nti rely n ew mode l m e
If I
com e I s h a ll not fail to m ak e proo f o f that
lz zg
s/z a llo w m a a e
/i sta n cling quadruped wh i ch
you h av e p u rchased : i ts p ri ce and you r de
scriptio n l ead m e to ex p ect a beast far prefe r
able to p oo r D uncan
A s you read th e S c ots m a n and Co u rie r news
p ape rs i ntell igence o f that plot at L ondon
can not b u t h av e reach ed you I t i s a horrid
p iece o f b us i ness assassi natio n has l ong been
a strange r to the B ri tish soi l : but wh ilst we
deprecate such shock i ng attem p ts some p i ty
shoul d be m i n g led w i th ou r abhorre nce of the
frant ic co ns p i rators \Vel l fou nded com p lai n ts
of p overty o ne m i g h t al most s a y starvation
m et wi th i nd i ffere nce o r c o ld blooded rid icul e
o n the p art o f G ove rn m ents v e ry natu rally
,

famous C a t o S t ee t C p I m y p lo t for t he assas

i ti
of t he M in i s t ers o n t he 3 d of Feb uary w h i ch for
a w h i le absorbed er ) o t her t o pi c of p ubl i c i nt e es t
1

s na

T he

on

o nS

C\

LE TTERS

278

OF

CARL YLE

TH O/IIA S

820

exasperate the igno rant m i nds o f th e gove rned

and im pel th em to en terprises o f a d es p erate
nature I f th e K i ng and h is m i n is te rs do not
ado p t a s e t o f m easures e nti rely d ifferen t from
those wh ich they h ave followed h i th erto i t i s
greatl y to be d readed that m o re form idable
and better con certed res istance w ill ens ue o r
what is wo rse that B ri tai n o nce th e m istress
of the ocean an d the re nowned seat o f arm s
an d arts w il l s in k from her lofty elevation her
rude cl i ffs no longer embell ished by freedom
present i ng only thei r nat iv e barre n ness and in
s i n i c a n c e
B
ut
I
hop
e
bette
r
of
O
l
d
E
ngl
and
g
yet
I n the mean ti me what co nsti tutes o u r
w isest plan is to follow our priv ate co ncerns as
d il ige ntly as w e m ay w ithout m i n g l i ng i n ev il
bro ils u nl ess i mperious n ecess i ty cal l us s o to
do
Y ou are very j ust i n supposi ng that the
offer (poo r i ndee d b ut the bes t the c i rcum
stances w il l perm i t ) wh i ch I m ade yo u was
qu i te serious an d u n feigned
I k now not
whether any ch an nel opens i n wh i ch yo u m igh t
t ry you r com merc ial skill ; but i f i t do I would
,

TO M R

1 820

R O B ER T

MI

TCHELL

2 79

certai nl y adv ise you to em brace the o p portu n ity

though i t were but to i nstruct yo u wi th re
gard to what I suppose will be you r futu re
occupation C om man d m e m y boy s o far as
the few pou nds I hav e are abl e to exte nd :
th ey wil l i ncrease yet I ween by d il igence and
activ i ty I can not employ them better B ut
l o ! the e nd o f my paper E xcuse m y dul ness
bel i ev e that I shal l do better anothe r t i me ;
and do not doubt that I rem ai n (my dear
B rothe r ) eve r you rs m ost affect io nately
,

T H O MA S CAR LYLE
L

To

M r R M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M

a n se

E DI N BUR G H

8 1/i ll a
.

rc b

8 20

M I T C H ELL E ve r s i nce the month

o f J an uary l ast a trai n o f i ll health wi th it s
usual de p ress io n aggravated by othe r p ri va
tions and calam i ti es too ted ious to p articul arise
h a s p ressed h eav i ly u p o n m e
T he v i cti m of
i nqu ietud e an d des p onde ncy I coul d not resolve
to af ic t yo u w i th m y s orrows o r m y d ul ness ;
a n d thou g h c o nsc ience frequen tl y accused m e
M Y D EA R

LE TTERS

2 80

OF

TH OI IIA S

CA RL YLE

1 8 20

o f negl ect th ree m o nths you s e e h av e passed

away befo re the s impl e duty o f answeri ng you r
lette r is perform ed T h ough the p eriod o f m y
s ilence has been long the excuse wh ich I h av e
o ffered m igh t appl y stil l longer ; b ut m y friends
are too few and m y oppo rtu n it ies of acqu i ri ng
m ore too sle nder fo r allow i ng m e to stand s uch
h az ards I can not affo rd to lo s e th e p leasure o f
o ur i nti macy an d l es t d esuetude m ay coo l (I
t rust i t w ill not ext i nguish ) that feel i ng I wri te

al though i t b e i n sp ite o f natu re and my

s tars i
Y ou woul d suspect m e o f a closeness far
e nough fro m m y d ispos ition i f I d i d not
attemp t to t race you a sketch o f the l i fe w hi ch
I h av e led fo r som e t im e past I t m ust be a
brief sketch fo r m any reasons howe v er ; and
ch i ey because i t w ill con tai n n o featu re cal e u
l ated to i nteres t any o ne eve n a secon d sel f
Zim m erman n has wri tten a book wh i ch h e ca l ls
Tb e P lea s u res of S o lit u de ; I wou l d not h ave
you to bel i ev e h im : sol itude i n t ruth has few
pleasures u n i nterrupted sol i tude i s fu ll o f pain
B ut sol itude o r com p any mo re d istressi ng is
,

1 820

T O AI R

RO B ER T

III I T CH E LL

281

not th e wors t i ngred ien t o f th i s cond it ion Th e

though t th at one s bes t days are h u rry i ng darkly
and uselessly away is ye t more gri evous I t i s
vai n to deny i t m y fri end I am altogether an
u n p rotable c reatu re T i m id yet not humbl e
weak yet enthus iasti c ; nature an d educat io n
have rendered m e e nti rely u n t to force m y
way amo ng th e th i ck S ki nned i nhab i tants of
th is planet L a w I fear m us t be renou nced ;
i t i s a shapel ess mass o f absu rd i ty an d ch icane
and th e ten years wh ich a barrister com monly
S p ends i n pai n ful i dleness be fo re arriv i ng at
em p loym ent is mo re than my phys ical o r moral
fram e coul d end u re Teach i ng a school i s but
anothe r wo rd fo r s ure and not v e ry s l ow
dest ructi o n : and as to com p il i ng th e wretch ed
l ives o f M ontesqu ieu M on tagu M o ntai g ne
etc fo r D r B rewster th e rem u neratio n wil l
hardly sustai n l i fe What then is to be don e
T h is s ituatio n but I touch a stri ng wh ich
gene rall y y ield s a ted ious sou nd to any but the
I kno w yo u are n o t i nd i fferen t to
O p e rato r
the matte r but I woul d n o t t i re yo u w i th it
T h e fate o f on e m an is a m i g h ty smal l
.

LE TTERS

2 82

OF

CA RL YLE

TH O/W A S

1 820

concern i n th e grand whol e of th is best o f al l

p oss ibl e worlds ; let us q ui t th e subj ect w i th
j ust one observat io n mo re wh ich I th row ou t
for yo u r bene t S houl d you ever com e to need
s uch an adv i ce I t i s to kee p th e profess io n
you have ado p ted i f i t be at al l tolerable A
you ng m an wh o goes forth i n to th e worl d to
seek h is fo rtu ne wi th thos e lofty i deas of ho nou r
an d up right ness wh ich a stud ious secl uded l i fe
naturall y begets w ill i n n i nety n i ne cases ou t o f
the hu nd red i f fri ends and other aids are
wanti n g fal l i nto th e sere th e yel l ow l eaf an d
i f h e qu i t no t h is i ntegri ty end a w retched
though h app i ly a S hort career i n m isery and
fai l u re D issipat io n i s i n n itel y worse : I than k
H eave n I am not a poet I shal l avo i d that s a d
a l tern at i ve
I was gl ad to learn th at you had n ished th e
perusal o f H om er C ertai nly the bl i nd bard is
l ittl e obl iged by you r opi n io n of h i m I bel ieve
howev er C andou r i s an d that is better I f
from th e adm i ration fel t by C asaubon S cal i g er
and C O and st ill more b y the crowds that
bl i ndl y fol low them we could s ubtract that
,

820

T O AI R

R O B ER T

E LL

Ill I T CH

2 83

portio n wh ich origi nated i n the as hollow

adm i rat io n of others for th e sam e obj ect ; an d
i f fu rther all affectat io n could be ban ished ; I
fear a ve ry i nco ns iderable i tem woul d remai n
I n fact M aeon ides h as had h is d ay a t l east the
bette r part of i t th e noo n was ve a nd twe nty
centu ries ago th e tw il igh t (for h e set i n 1 4 5 3 )
may last for another ve and t we nty centu ries
but it too m us t term i nate
N oth i ng that we
k now o f can las t for ever T he v ery m ountai ns
are s ile ntly wasti ng away an d long before
etern i ty i s done M ont B lan c m igh t cease to be
th e pi n nacl e o f E u ro p e and C h i m borazo l ie
u nde r the P aci c P h i losophy a nd l i te ratu re
have a far sho rte r date E rro r i n the rst
s ucceeds to erro r as wave to wave
P lato
obscu red th e fam e o f P ytha g oras C udwo rth
and K an t o f Plato : the S tagi ri te an d h is idle
s p awn h ave bee n s we pt away by L ord B acon
h im sel f to be s wept away i n h is turn E ve n i n
th e narrow dom i n io n o f truth the con ti nuance
o f re no wn is not m o re d u rabl e eac h succeed in g
obse rve r from a h ighe r vanta g e g roun d co rn
p resses the labou rs o f h is fo re ru nne r ; an d as
,

LE TTERS

2 84

OF

CARL YLE

TI I OIIIA S

1 820

the P r in c ib ia o f N ewto n i s al ready swallowed

up i n th e M eca n igu e Celeste o f L a Pl ace s o
l ikewis e wil l i t fare wi th th is p resen t L ord o f
the ascendant Poetry they tell us escapes th e
general doom : but ev en wi thout the ai d o f
revol utio ns o r deluges i t cannot al ways es cape
T he i deas about wh i ch i t is co nversant m us t
d i ffer i n every d ifferen t age an d country T h e
P oet ry o f a C hoctaw I i magi ne woul d tu rn
ch iey o n the p ai ns of h unger and th e p l easu res
o f catch i ng B ears o r scalpi ng C h ic a sa w s I n
l ike m an ner tho u gh som e o f th e affection s
wh i ch H om er del in eates are c o ex is te nt w ith the
race ye t i n th e p rogress o f re neme nt (o r
change ) h is m ode of del i neat i ng them will appear
triv ial o r d isgus ti ng and the very twi l ight o f
h is fame w ill hav e an end T h us al l th i ngs are
dyi ng m y frie nd o nl y oursel ves d i e faste r
M an ! if I had 2 00 a year a beau ti ful l i tt l e
house i n som e laugh i n g v alley th ree o r fou r
p ure s p i ri ted mortals who would love m e and
be loved agai n together wi th a h andsom e
l i brary and a great g en ius I woul d i nvest i
gate the halluci nat ions that con nect them selves

82 0

CARL YLE

T O A LE X A IVD E R

2 85

wi th such ideas A t presen t I m ust rev is i t this

nether sphere
I k now not wh ethe r I shal l see you in
su m mer ; m os t p robabl y I s hall l eave th is town
i f fo r eve r I need no t great l y care : but whether
o r not I need not add that I rem ai n m y dear
M itchel l you rs ever
T H O MA S CAR LY LE
.

L I T A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
.

E D I NBUR G H

2 9 t/i

M a in h ill

M a rc/t

820

M any thanks m y dear A l i ck fo r y ou r agree

abl e an d e ntertai n i ng L ette r
Y ou and m y o th er affectio nate friends at
M a in h ill are v e ry k i n d to press m e so u rgently
to come hom e I sh all no t forget th is speed i ly
T h e wo rd home i s s weet to a S cottis h ear : and
I should be the m ost u nthan k ful soul o n earth
i f I d id not grateful ly re ec t that among al l my
wan ts and d i sa pp o i ntmen ts I h av e ye t Parents
an d b reth re n le ft wi th who m I can re p ose fo r a
season and fo rget i n the m idst o f s i nce re a ffe c
ti on l i berty an d ve rnal breezes the smoke and
,

LE TTERS

286

OF

TH OI l/ A S

CA RL YLE

820

s ti r o f th i s d ul l wo rld O f l ate I h av e ofte n

been med i tati n g to com e hom e ; last sum m e r
was of very great i mpo rtance to m e and had I
some stated j ob o f wo rk to keep m e i n em ploy

m en t and d ri ve away th e v ul tu res of th e m i nd

I coul d s p en d th e a pp roach i ng mo nths am ong
you wi th great adv antage
I was h appy at
M a in h ill happier upo n th e whole than I h ave
bee n i n ge neral s i nce m y boy hood an d though
we de g enerate posterity of A dam as we are
have i n ou r hearts a fund o f a lo es that wo uld
ch equer ev e n th e fel ici ty of E d en I hope to be
happy there agai n B efo re wri ti ng I expected
to h av e i t i n my power to g iv e you som e satis
factory accou nt o f th e ch ance I have to ge t a
transl atio n o r oth er bus i nes s o f the l ike stam p
to manage i n my rust icat io n ; and when the
box arriv ed I was b usy wri t ing th e l ives of S i r
M
oore
and
h
is
father
D
r
M
oore
i
n
orde
r
J
that upo n present i ng the m to B rewster to
morrow I m igh t m ake some i nqu i ries as to
th i s matter W hat m y s uccess m ay be I shall
be better abl e to tel l you nex t o pp ortu n ity I n
th e m ean tim e I h av e som e hope I ant i ci pate
.

CARL YLE

TO A L E X A I VD E R

8 20

287

p leasu re i f I s ucceed ; ris i n g earl y even i ng

c ra cks D u ncan s worth ier re p resentat i ve (I
mean the stee d D u ncan ) and m any th i ngs more
aris e be fore the fan cy : b ut i f I s hould fail

as m uch doubt there i s see i ng the bes t co n

c e rt e d schem es
o f m ice and m en gang aft
aglee
I sh all not altogethe r d roop
W i th
h eal th I can turn m e m any ways ; an d I hope
com pletely to recov er th at blessi ng
Dr
B rews te r tel l s m e that fo r fteen years he was
at death s doo r ; and no w i n h i s forty seco n d
year he i s p erfectly well A fte r these l ives
abov e refe rred to I hav e no ne to wri te bu t
those o f N ecke r and A d m iral N elso n wh ich wi ll
not be needed fo r s ix m on th s A rev i ew for
B rewste r s P/t ilosop /i ica l jo u rn a l o f a Ge rm an
book o n M agnet i sm I m ust also w ri te o r
say I can no t ; the form e r alternati ve i s bette r :
and then (as ou r man o f law co ncl udes i n a few
days ) I am m y own maste r to g o wh i the rsoeve r
I l ist
I shall mak e a v iole n t effo rt to a e com
l
i
s h a ll these th i n g s an d com e hom e w i th a
p
F ren ch o r L ati n book u n de r m y arm H ome
any way
,

2 88

LE TTE

OF

CA RL YLE

Tl l OIl/ A S

1820

I expect earnestly to s e e what are you r

P oo r C arruthers !
O p i n ions regard i ng H um e
T he strong an d the weak al i ke wi ther at the

e
touch of fat
W ri te to m e at l arg e and b e
l iev e m e to be my dear B rother yours most
.

fa it h fu u y

T H O MA S C AR LYLE

L I L T o

A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
E D IN BUR G H

gtb

M a in h ill

Ap ril

820

M Y D E AR A L IC K I rece i ved

you r lette r
about noo n ; and bei ng th is day upo n th e fast
i ng l ist (not from rel igious bu t m ed ic i nal
mot iv es ) I h av e S p II It S to wri te but v e ry im
perfectl y to you and no t at al l to m y val uable
correspondent J ack whose letter however I
esteem very h ighl y o n m an y accou nts
In
truth m y s il ence i s o f sm all i mportance any
way : I am com i ng ho m e soon and i f on ce I

loose m y t i nkler j aw amo n g you you s hal l

get enough and to spare of i t T h is i tti ng
plan i s a mos t soul teari ng th i ng at best ; and
besi des the u nav o idable l abou r of pack i ng g oods
and cl eari ng scores I h av e to stri ve wi th m ul

82 0

TO

ALEXA ND ER CARL YLE

2 89

t ip lie d

enga g em ents relat ing to m y sum mer s

employm e nt W he n I wrote l ast I k n ew not
wh ether I s houl d get any bus i ness at al l to kee p
m y hands i n use bu t i t now appears that I am
to write several A rt icl es fo r th e E n cyc lop e dia
fo r I h av e j us t
what
th
ey
are
I
do
not
k
now
(
been putti ng down a pretty l o ng l is t wh ich D r
B is to exam i n e an d sel ect fro m an d report
about o n F riday m orn i ng ) ; I h ave also two
pretty lo ng articles to translate wh ich i s th e
eas iest j ob ; and l astly (wh i ch ough t to h av e
bee n rst ) I h av e to write a ki nd of rev iew of
that clear backed l arge book wh i ch you wi ll see
i n th e box upo n M agnetism an d othe r po i nts
I o ugh t to hav e do ne i t here you k no w ; but I
fel t m y poo r head s o embarrassed an d con fused
wi th o ne th i ng an d anothe r that i t seemed upo n
th e whol e an easie r plan to take th e concern
hom e wi th m e and prepa re i t at m y ease
what ease at l east I can nd be fore the m iddle
of M ay whe n i t wi l l be need ed
I h av e l ike
wi se so rn e (sl ender ) ho p es o f getting a F rench
book to translate L ife of llIa a a m e de S ta el ;
bu t of th is I am far from certai n hav i n g o nly
.

'

VO L

LE TTERS

2 90

OF

TII OllIA S

CARL YLE

8 20

D r B rew ste r fo r my hench man o n th is occa

s io n and h e h av i ng no perso nal i nteres t i n the
affai r B ut wheth er h is appl ication wh ich h e
was to make th is day to o ne T ait a booksel l er
be successfu l o r not I S h al l hav e pl enty to do
fo r one hal f year an d though the mo ney resu l t
i ng from s uch l abo ur i s no t at al l abu ndant i t
i s co ns iderably better th an th e rewards o f laz i
n ess I t w ill serv e at l east to keep the E vil
On e ou t o f o ne s pocket
N o w you w i ll naturally be rathe r i mpat ien t
after al l th is pream b l e to k now w /i e n I am
actual l y to be at M a in h ill I n b ri ef then m y
p roj ect is th is
I h ave prom ised to go and s e e
I rv i ng at G l asgo w befo re m y retu rn I des ign
to l eav e th is sm oky and mos t d usty town o n
S aturday next ; th e sam e n igh t and nex t day
I sh all l i kely spend w i th N i col at A i rdrie and
o n M o nday I sh al l be w i th N ed
H ow l ong I
S hal l stay the re is not s o certai n i t w ill depend
upon th e state o f t he c ity o f I r v i ng s engage
m ents etc U po n th e whol e however i t seem s
l ikel y that i f al l go wel l I sh al l s e e you abou t
S aturday (2 9 t h ) o r very soo n after I t m ay be
.

TO

820

II R

E
N
T
II
I
E
H
N
S
O
A
S
O
7
7
:

29 1

before : bu t you are not to weary i f i t shoul d

be T uesday or Wednesday th ough I th i nk t/z a t
u nl i kely I trust I shal l n d yo u al l i n good
trim
Y ours most faith full y
,

T H O MA S C AR LY LE

T he Rad i cals are qu iet

H ow m any l ies
h ave been tol d about th em ! P oor wretches !
they are to be pi tied as wel l as condem ned
C obbler S m ith is i n E d i nbu rgh C astl e
.

LI I I

M r J AM E S J O H N S T O N E A
N
S ti

To

o va

co

nna

po

li

s,

M A IN H I LL, 5 m [ Wa y

820

M Y D E AR J O H N S T O N E It i s vai n to a p ol ogise

o r d issembl e I am o ne o f the m os t careless

n e g l i g e nt u ngrate ful dogs i n ex istence
I
ou g h t wi thou t doubt to have answe red your
lon g l ooked for and most val uabl e lette r by
the ve ry rs t o pp o rtun i ty T o have i n tended
i t and g on e d i rectl y t o Ire Post o f c e fo r
i n fo rmation about the N o va S coti a m ails is
noth i n g : th i s long s ilen ce th e longes t that has
.

LE TTERS

2 92

OF

TH OIIIA S

CARL YLE

820

occu rred i n o ur correspo nde nce S i nce we rst

had th e happi n ess to k now each other gives
you j us t gro und to suspect that the l apse o f a
few m onths can obl ite rate al l the traces o f a
lo n g friendsh i p from m y m i n d and render the
dut ies o f that honou rabl e relat io n an emp ty
n am e
I con fess you have j ust grounds fo r
such thoughts : an d I despai r o f gai n i ng cred i t
when I assure yo u th at i n e nte rtai n ing them
yo u wou l d do m e anyth i ng but j ustice Y et
t he fact i s I h av e not at any t im e forgotten
you S troll i ng about these moors las t summer
the sigh t of B o gs ide } o f th e s u n setti ng i n th e
W es t and twe nty o th er obj ects i ncessant l y and
pai n ful l y recalled you to m y m em ory : and i n
E d i nbu rgh the p resen ce o f s i l ly s tuden ts wi th
whom I cou l d h ave no sym pathy o r fel lowsh ip
recalled you st ill m ore pai n fully Why the n
d id I no t wri te ? I k now not ; I h av e said
that there i s no apol ogy of a satis factory k i nd
and I shal l no t attemp t to o ffe r you a frivo l ous
o ne : b ut someth i ng l i ke a pall i atio n fo r my
cond uct m ay be found i n the s uccess i ve ts of
,

J oh n s t o n e s home n ear

M a in h ill

82 0

T O AI R

7 A IIIE S yOH N S I
'

ON E

2 93

acti v i ty and low sp i ri ts wh i ch occup ied my t i m e

last w i nte r i n th e pauci ty o f ou r opportu n it ies
to sen d l etters to A meri ca abov e all i n th e
desul tory p roc rast in ati ng hab its wh ich a u c
t u a t in
bei
ng
l
i
ke
m
e
i
s
su
re
to
co
ntract
an
d
g
wh i ch steal away ou r m i nutes we k now not
how t ill they am ou n t to mo nths o r years of
tim e gone use l essly and i rrecoverab l y by I t
seemed s o easy whe n I had m issed the J anuary
m ail (a few days afte r you r l etter reached me )
to be i n read i ness agai nst th e rst Wed nesday o f
Feb ruary ; and wh en Feb ruary and M arch had
both passed fru i tlessly away the th i ng becam e
an d H i ll s proj ected
s o pai n ful to th i nk upon
voyage to N ew B ru nswick o ffered such a
atte ri ng u ncti o n to m y soul that at l as t I
gladl y resol ved to postpone the O peratio n til l
h i s de p artu re wh ich h as bee n del ayed several
weeks l on g e r th an was ex p ected
I ou g h t to
say also that I t ried twice to wri te to you but
th e dem o ns of d ul ness and d isqu ietude shed
the i r p op p ies and th ei r ga ll u p o n m e ; twi ce I
attem p te d and bis p a t rire cec ia e re m a u u s U p o n
th e whol e I s e e wel l enou g h that I h av e m ad e
,

LE TTERS

2 94

OF

TH O/W A S

CA RL YLE

1 820

ou t but a ve ry lam e case fo r myse l f ; the refore

after al l that I can s a y my o nly resou rce i s to
th row mysel f o n the m ercy o f th e j udge an d
to entreat h i m to ho p e that I shal l neve r i n
future behav e s o badly If b ul k can s upply
oth e r de cienc ies you s hal l be sati sed ; for I
des i g n to sc ribbl e nearly al l the paper i n the
house
I was go i ng to con g
ratul ate you o n the safe
term i natio n o f th e voyage descri bed s o v iv i d l y
by your l etter an d to express my hope th at
ti m e h ad al ready moul ded you r way o f th i nki ng
,

an d l iv i ng i nto som e degree o f toleratio n fo r

th at o f A n na p ol is ; whe n I learn ed that you r
n ew S ituatio n ap p eared l i kely to y ield noth i ng
but d iscom fort and chagri n ; that you r boys are
s tup id you r society b rut ish you r c l i mate dis
agreeable and ev ery th i ng about th e place
repuls iv e an d d ishearte n i ng A las ! m y dear
friend I am grieved to th e heart for i t T hat
by c rossi ng the ocean you have not escaped
fro m care i s not s urp ris i ng she cl imbs the
deck along w i th us ; s h e follows u s to th e
th ro ne and the temple ; the g rave alon e is
,

82 0

To

MR

7 A M E s 7 0H N S TO

NE

295

del ivered from her v is i ts : b ut that after s o

m uch exertion danger an d vexatio n you s houl d
stil l nd s o l ittl e to sweeten th e cup o f l ife i s
an af ictio n that I d i d not ant i cipate Y et
?
a
what can I s y to com fort you
M y words
can not t rans form A cad ia i nto Tempe i ts rude
P l anters i nto R os coes o r i ts T ru llib e r i nto what
a cle rgym an ough t to be N o r am I at al l
pre p ared eve n i f I were qual i ed to adv ise
you at such a j u ncture th e c i rcu mstances h av e
fou nd m e at seco nd han d ; I h ave been but two
d ays at M a in h ill and I h ave yet seen no ne o f
your l etters o r co rrespo nde nts A t rst v iew
howeve r i t ce rtai nly s tri kes m e that A m erica
has p rese nted i ts wo rs t s ide to you A n ew
s ituatio n com monl y resembl es a n ew s uit o f
clothes : rarel y does i t fai l to gal l th e weare r
i n som e po i nts at th e be g i n n i n g ; yet a l i ttl e
wh il e i s g enerall y s u f cien t to p ut al l to ri g h ts
to m ake th e robe accom modate i tsel f to the m an
o r the man to th e robe S o m ay i t fare w ith
you r tuto rsh i p at A n na p ol is I c a n easi l y con
c e iv e fo r I h ave o fte n fel t the fo rl orn sensat io n
th at takes p ossession O f th e m i nd when n o
,

LE TTERS

2 96

OF

TH OI IIA S

CA RL YLE

1 820

obj ect i s at hand to i n terest i t and no othe r

m i nd to com mu n i cate w ith : I can u nderstand
the pai n ful ness o f teach i ng th e troub l e o f in
t e rru p t e d habi ts and twen ty oth er in c o n v e n i
e n c e s that you r p l ace abou nds wi th : yet stil l
before determ i n i ng (as I hear you have wel l
n igh done ) to rev is i t E u rope I wou l d have
you stead ily re ect upon the co nsequence of
such a step C an you determ i ne to becom e a
school m as te r nally to perambulate th e cou ntry
as a d isse nti ng preacher o r to spen d som e
doze n pai nful years i n the fam i l y of a pa l try
squ i re w i th the hope o f gai n i ng an obs cure
footi ng i n th e E stab l ish ment } N o n e o f th es e
l
a n s I th i n k woul d su it
well
yet
they
are
o
u
p
y
a l most th e o nl y ave nues wh ich the l i terary pro
fe s s io n holds out for preferm ent to person s
i n ou r station E ve n these poo r ave nues are
i n th is cou ntry overcrowded ; on e i s j ost l ed i n
them at every step : other l i nes o f l i fe are no t
l ess overcrowded ; and i n p l ace of ti mes mend
i ng i t seem s clear to m ost unprej ud iced peopl e
that th e d istress n ot to s a y s tarvation wh ich at
,

Th e

E s t abl i shed K i rk

TO M R

1 829

7 A M E 5 7 OH N S TONE

2 97

p resent i nvol ves the trad ing part of th e com

m un ity m ust ulti mately an d th at ere l ong
i nvo l v e al l the l ower classes e nti rely N oth i ng
then to be hoped but the dub iou s an d d istant
resul t o f revol utio n and c iv il d iscord T h is is
a pal e and d reary p rospect m y friend wh i ch
G reat B ritai n holds ou t to o ne I fear however
i t i s too fai thful O n th e other hand co ns ider
ho w m any o f the ev ils th at n o w torm ent you
custo m w il l i nu re yo u to endure with in diffe r
ence perh aps with satis factio n cons ider the
pleasu re o f an i ndepende nt m ai nte nance co n
s i de r th e bou ndless el d wh ich th e new cou ntry
opens for exertio n of every sort a el d not
i mpoverished l ike ou rs and d is p u ted i n daily
st ri fe ; bu t th i nl y occup ied an d ferti le though
coarse C ons i de r all th is I e ntreat you before
ado p ti ng a resol utio n wh i ch m us t now be nal
Fortu ne and th e wo rl d cons p i re to chastise us
seve rel y fo r i nconstancy ; and at ou r t im e o f
l i fe i t is h i g hl y d isadvanta g eous to change
I n a ll th i s lon g d iscuss ion I have e n
de a vo u re d to s p eak th e cold and naked t ruth
as i t a pp ears to m y ow n m i n d o n cons ide ri ng
,

2 98

LE TTERS

CA RL YLE

TH O/IIA S

OF

1 82 0

every ci rcumstance that has come to m y k now

ledge o n th e s ubj ect I hav e e ndeavoured to
d i vest m ysel f o f every part ial o r sel sh fee l i ng ;
because I co ns ide r that you r dem eanou r o n
th is occas io n m ay give a colou r to the rest of
your l i fe ; and whoever takes upo n h i m to
adv ise a fri en d ough t to speak w i th an eye
to that fri end s i nterest alone I t has cost m e
an e ffo rt so to do i n th is case : fe w persons
I s up p ose h ave m issed you more than I and
though you upo n maturel y contemp l ati ng both
s ides o f the question dete rm i ne to retu rn to
S cotland I s hal l be th e v ery rst to we l com e
you wi th heart and hand to you r nat i ve shore
P erh aps you have v i ews wh ich I k now not of
perh aps you r agri cul tu ral skil l m ight be e xe r
c ise d i n
E ngland mo re advan tageously than
any of your other acqu i rements ; I shal l b e
most ha p py to nd i t so : but I would not
adv ise you to lay any st ress upon the pleasure
o f spend i ng another wi nter i n E d i nbu rgh ; u n
l ess yo u h ave d isti nct p ros p ects of p utti ng the
knowl edge you w i ll acqui re there to use I
would not adv ise you to go th ither eve n though
.

x8 2 0

To

MR

7 A M E S 7 0H N S TONE

2 99

you were i n S cotlan d an d doi ng noth i ng

E di nbu rgh looks beaut i ful i n th e i m agi nat ion
because the heart when we k n ew it of old was
as yet u nwru ng an d ready to d eriv e enj oyment
from whatev er cam e before i t V is i t the A l m a
M a ter now an d yo u are d isgusted p robabl y
with th e most feeb l e d riv ell i ng o f th e stude nts
shocked at th e u nph ilosoph i c sp i ri t o f th e
professo rs
dis sa t is e d w ith th e smoke and th e
odou r and everyth ing else i n or about the c i ty
I certai nl y woul d not cou nsel you to m ake any
sacri ces fo r what I k now from s a d experie nce
woul d al most wi thout doubt d isappo i nt you :
yet th i s I th i nk ough t hardl y to we igh at all i n
form i n g you r determ i nat io n E d i nb urgh m ay
h av e changed S i nce we k new it w e ou rselves
m ay h av e changed s till m o re yet after al l
there is a wo rld eve n i n S cotl an d th ere is a
wo rld el sewhere
I repeat m y requ est (and
w i th i t concl ude th is p rol ix d issertatio n ) that
you would stead fastl y and se riousl y co ns ider
the ci rcumstances o f the e ase
do noth i ng
rash ly and i f you resol ve to retu rn back to
A n nandal e be su re al l you r friend s an d they
.

300

LE TTERS

OF

TH OJ I A S

CARL YLE

820

are not few w ill experi ence the greatest sat is

faction a t behol d i ng you o nce mo re
A fte r pe rus i ng th e p reced i ng pages gra t u i
tously consecrated to adv i ce upon a subj ect
wh ich I k now s o i m perfectly you w il l be ready
to i n fer that myse l f a m pl aced o n som e com
m and i ng em i nen ce abov e th e v iciss i tudes o f
F ortu ne and qual i ed to cas t dow n an e xp e ri
e n c e d eye u po n the vortex o f h um an affai rs
Y ou were n ever i n you r l i fe more m istaken
A t no period that I recollect hav e m atters had
a more doub tful as p ect I we nt to E d i nbu rgh
i n w i nte r afte r a s um m er pleasant l y b ut not
very p rotab l y spe n t at m y F ather s w i th the
v i ew o f study i ng S cots L aw i nten d i ng as
you k now i f al l th i ngs p rospered to make one
des p erate effort at ob tai n i ng an A dvocate s
gown ; and gai n i ng m y bread by a profess io n
recom me nded to m y fan cy so s trongly by the
honou rabl e nature of the exertions that e nsu re
success i n i t I went i n moderate heal th and
wi th cons iderabl e hopes : but a la s ! D av id H um e
ow ns no s p ark of h is un cl e s gen ius ; h is l ectures
o n law are (stil l excepti ng E rsk i n e s I n st itu tes )
,

TO M R

820

NS TO NE

7 OH
7AME S :

39

the dullest p iece o f stuff I ever s a w o r heard o f

L ong wi nded dry details about po i nts not of
the sl ightest importance to an y b ut an A ttorney
o r N o tary P ubl ic ; obser v at io ns upo n the fo r
m a lit ie s o f cus tom s wh ich ough t to be i nstantl y
and for e ver abol ished ; u ncou nted cases of
blockh ead A ve rs u s blockh ead B w ith what
S tai r though t u po n th em wh at B a n k t o n wh at
the poor do u bting D i rleto n an d the n th e n ature
O infa n du m
B y degrees
o f act ions o f
I got d ishearte ned ; the scie n ce of la w seem ed
l ittle cal culated to y i eld a reward proportio nate
to the labou r o f acqu i ri ng i t ; I becam e rem iss
i n m y efforts to follow o ur L ecturer th rough th e
vast and thorny desert h e was t rave rs i ng ; t ill
at length I abandoned h im al togeth er w i th a
resol utio n that i f eve r I became fam il iar wi th
law i t m ust b e u nde r d iffere nt g u idance O cca
I tri ed wri ti ng but most o f m y
s io n a lly too
p rojects i n that departme n t al togethe r failed
T he s ill y L i ves o f M on tesqu ieu M ontaigne
etc etc wh i ch I wrote fo r B rewste r s E n cyclo
are
not
worth
m
ention
in
g
the
res
t
are
ce dia
;
p
yet i n e m b yro A t l ength these i nc iden ts aided
.

LE TTERS

30 2

THO M A S CARL YLE

OF

1 820

powerfully by th e last ho rribl e w i nter began

to act u p o n m y heal th : I determ i ned to qu i t
E d i nbu rgh ; and o n Wed nesday even i ng I re
turned o nce m ore to M a in h ill wearied an d
fai nt and though long used not al together re
c o n c ile d to th e res t wh ich i s enj oyed upo n the
p illow of u ncertai nty I am to translate and
wri te som e t rie s duri ng S ummer i f m y sp i ri ts
serve ; what n ext
I am sorry that I care
so m u ch more than I know U po n the whole
I am al teri ng V ery fast
H ope will not a l ways
stay w ith on e ; an d des p ai r i s not an el igibl e
neighbou r I do not th i nk I am ever to h ave
any settl ed way of do i ng
T each i ng and
P reach i ng I have fors worn ; an d I bel ieve I
am too ol d for begi n n i ng any ne w profess ion
O n e l eads a strange m iscellan eous l i fe at that
rate yet i f i t can no t be helped
I t m ust be owned howeve r that I have no
g reat reason to com plai n O n look i ng at the
cond i t io n o f m an y othe rs there seems rath er
cause for gratulati on N ever i n th e h istory of
B ri tai n d id I read o f s uch a s ituation B lack
i nqu ietude m isery p hys i cal and m oral from
,

TO M R

820

7AM

ES

7 0H N S TON E

39 3

o ne end o f the islan d to th e oth er R ad i cal

ris i ngs and arm ed co nfederations of the h i g her
classes and l ittl e o r no expectat io n of bette r
times T h is neighbourhood I nd i s s u ffer
in g v ery sl igh tly i n compariso n ; o n m y way
fro m P aisley I passed s everal groups j ou r
h
ither
i
n
search
o
f
work
and
food
n e in
y g
l ike th e I s rael i tes o f old to Goshe n i n th e
dearth : yet none ca n doub t th at the A gric u l
tu re [s ic ]m u s t feel the press ure o f those taxes
wh ich at p resen t excl ude ou r com merce excep t

at a rui nous rate from al most al l the m arkets

i n th e world
I am not a croaker ; but I fore
cas t noth i ng excep t a n i nc rease of cal am i ty for
seve ral years to com e I suppose yo u have
heard ful l y from th e N ewspapers o f the R adical
com mo tions th e m arch i ng cou ntermarch i ng
an d battles that h av e m arked th is t ro ubl ed
wi nte r
T he d i stu rbances are quel led fo r a
seaso n bu t as an old peasan t whom I overtook
o n th e road from M u i rk i rk ex p ressed h i msel f
u nl ess these t im es al te r fol ks w ill al l be Rad icals
toge the r O n e o f th e even ts wh ich h ave o c
cu rred in the late t rou bles may affect you mo re
,

LE TTERS

30 4

OF

THO M A S CARL YLE

1 8 20

than m any othe r even ts o f greate r i mportance

I all ude to the captu re o f W ill iam S m ith s hoe
m ak er E cclefechan who had t ravel led to G las
gow fo r the purpose o f buy i ng l eathe r ; and
fall i ng i n wi th sundry m e n o f k i ndred senti
m e nts h ad further i nvested h imsel f w ith th e
character o f delegate fro m ou r poor u npol iti cal
v illage and p roceeded to act forth wi th i n that
capacity H is d ign ity soo n w i thered fro m h is
b ro w ; and scarcely had he got h is se nti ments
d isclosed when th e room i n th e G a llo wga t e
wh ich those states m en occupied was env i ro ned
by a party o f so l d iers and th e whol e fratern ity
o f reformers w ith poor Wi ll among them were
lodged i n Glasgow j ail Poor S uto r ! I k no w
not the extent o f h is cri m i nal ity : but from the
com plex i on o f th e t imes I S hould not be at all
s u rprised i f he were sent to botan ise i n N ew
H ol land I have m uch to s a y o n th e presen t
s tate of publ i c affai rs ; an d i f you were bes ide
m e you wou l d have to hear i t all : bu t i t is a
l ittl e too m uch to occupy our b rief i nterv iew
w i th s uch m atters now that you are beyo nd
th e ocean and not at all co nce rned by them
.

T O AI R

820

yOH N S T ON E

30 5

an d that I though o n th is s i de o f the great

water am s o s ituated as to hav e noth i ng to
hop e and al most noth i ng to fear from any pol i
ti cal change whatev er I consign you therefo re
i f desi rous o f addi tio na l i n format ion to two
well wri tten A rticles by J effrey i n the l ast
E din bu rg/z R e vie w and i f yo u k now th e m ax i m
a u di a lt e ra m p a r te 7n
to s u ndry del i rious s p e c u
la t io n s fro m th e pe n o f M r S outhey where i n
t hese po i n ts are h and l ed at co ns ide rab l e l ength
i n the Q u a rte rly R e vie w
I betake m e to private h istory i n wh ich
though wi th equal d ul ness and haste I am su re
o f exci ti ng deepe r i nterest
A nd now m y fri e nd I m us t d raw th is
wretch ed t i ssue to a close M y pape r is coarse
my m i nd has been d istracted and hu rried by a
t housan d c ross acc idents s i nce I began to wri te :
I have wri tten s tup idl y and ted iousl y o f cou rse ;
noth in g has been as i t shoul d be bu t the wish
to p lease you wh ich I d o m ost consci entiousl y
pretend to I am p ersuaded yo u will p ardo n
my i ncon sistencies and b l unders fo r the sake o f
th i s l as t c i rcumstance ; nay furthe r that i n spite
,

VOL

LE TTERS

3 06

OF

TH OllIA S

CARL YLE

8 20

o f al l my faul ts you will w ri te m e at i m m ense

length by th e sh i p s retu rn
I hav e said that
it would not m uch s u rpris e m e i f you returned
o n board of her ; i t w il l hardly please any o ne
s o h ighly as mysel f : yet i f s o be not i f we m ust
no t s e e each other fo r m any long eventfu l years
I hope both o f u s will al ways retai n a happy
an d heartfe l t rem embrance o f the many days
we h ave spent together ; an d neglect no Op p o r
t u n it y o f cultivat i ng an i ntercourse s o pleasant
by every m eans th at yet remai ns to us M y
M other sends h er m ost k i nd respects to you
an d bes t w ishes for you r safe return s o s h e
ph rases i t ; m y F athe r is p reve nted by absence
fro m j o i n i ng at the present mom ent i n th is
wi sh b ut Al ick an d M eg who are bes ide m e
and every other h eart abo ut M a in h ill des i re
to be mos t co rd ial l y i nc l uded i n i t B o gs ide I
suppose has written a letter by th is co nveyance

s o I h av e not mentioned any domes ti c news

E dward I r v i ng is at G l asgow D r C hal mers
A ss istant ; I spent a week wi th h im o n m y re
tu rn from E d i nbu rgh H e succeeds wo nder
fully
B ut I have roo m for noth i ng m ore

1 32 9

TO

7 0H IV

CARL YLE

30 7

\Vrit e

to m e as fully as you poss ibl y can u nless

yo u i ntend to bri ng yo u rse lf : an d bel ieve m e
to be wi th the warm est wi shes for your p ros
rit
m
y
dear
fri
end
eve
r
m
ost
faith
fully
e
p
y
ours
y
T H O MA S CAR LYL E
,

LIV

J O H N A C AR LYLE A d

To

ca

E DIN BUR G H

7 t/t

e m y,

Decem b er

r ma

820

1
.

M Y D E AR B R OT H E R J A CK I h ad no t im e l ast

n igh t to write a reply to you r l ivel y l i ttl e no te

and bes ides I gath ered fro m som e express ions i n
i t that you i nte nded to wri te m e by the A n nan
carrie r
R i chardso n as I co nj ectu red ; fo r
wh ich reaso n I was the m ore w i ll i ng to post
pone the operatio n that s o I m igh t shoot two
dogs w ith o ne ball A nglice answer two l etters
a t o n ce R i chardso n is here and you h ave not
w ri tte n ; no r co ns ideri ng the t i me am I su r
p rised at i t Y o u wil l wri te to m e n ex t ti me I
k now at great l ength as to eve ryth i ng that
,

w a t t he A m a n Academy t each i ng
J oh n C a l yle w
a n d p re p ar i ng for C olle g e a t E d i n burgh
1

a s

no

308

LE TTERS

OF

TI ]O IIA S
.

CA RL YLE

8 20

concerns you
B e free i n stati ng al l you r
doubts and queri es an d d i f cul ties : I shal l b e
as free i n ans weri ng them
I t is very fortu nate that you hav e go t Fe r
gusso n to hear yo u a l esson ; stick to i t wh ile
you h ave such an opportun ity ; agai nst w i n ter
you w ill be ready for E d i nbu rgh
I con fess
however that I feel a reluctance i n adv isi ng
you to d il ige nce ; because I k now you are l ikely
to be at least d i l ige nt e n o u gb and presen t
appearances giv e m e roo m to fear not that you
wil l become a sluggard b ut th at you w ill becom e
a d ru dge an d th us bei ng ever m ore e nt ice d
by the charm s o f l i te ratu re and ever more t e
p ulsed by the fore ign n e ss o f ev eryday m ortals
t hat you will play th e s am e m iserable game that
I have played sacrici ng both health and peace
o f m i n d to the v ai n shadows of amb itio n u m
attai nable by o ne o f u s and useless though
they were attai nable T herefore m y good boy
let m e entreat you by the warm th of b rotherl y
affect ion to b eware o f th is to guard agai nst
the rs t ad vances o f deb il i ty to enj oy you rsel f
i n society by every honest m eans and to regard
.

82 0

TO

A CARL YLE

yOH N
'

309

i t as a cert a in fa c t that co nti nuous s tudy wil l

waste away the very b est const i tut ion th e loss
o f wh i ch is poorly most poorl y recompensed
by all th e learn i ng an d ph i l osophy of the human
race I fear yo u wil l not l iste n to m e : you ng
m en feel attered whe n i t is sai d they are study
i n g themsel ves i nto ill h ealth bu t they b itterly
regret thei r co nduct wh en i t is too late B e
l ieve m y experien ce my dear J ack ; may i t
never become you rs
I have bee n led i nto these re ections because
I am not yet qu ite recovered from a wi cked
rebel l ion o f th e in t e s t in e s p ro du c e d by th e
change o f ai r I suppose an d also by i n c l em en t
ci rcu mstan ces i n wh ich that change was b rough t
about I h ave stud ied no n e yet an d read nex t
to no ne I ndeed I m ust be re establ is hed
before I ca n study to any pu rpose
I ho p e you still go hom e o n S aturdays and

j an ner for an hou r o r two w ith ou r dearly

bel oved A l ick an d other as dear friends I t
w ill l i g h ten you r s p i ri ts
B e good to m y
M oth er and Fath er they h ave g i ve n us m uch
,

J a nn er

:
w
n
e
r
j

t o t alk i d ly

LE TTER S

3 10

OF

CA RL YLE

TH O/W A S

1 82 1

th e t i m e i s com i ng to repay i t B ut I m us t
out to wal k wi ndy and dark though i t be Wri te
i mmensel y to Y ou r affectio nate b rothe r
.

LV

To

T I IO M A S

CAR LYLE

A LE X A N D E R C AR LY LE

M a in h ill

E D IN BUR G H
MY

D E AR

A L IC X

d ja

nu a r

82

eas ily that th e

B la cRD w a zf and OldM o rt a lity h av e hu rried you
rather i n you r ep istle wh ich howe v er co ntai ns
th e grat i fyi ng i ntel l igence sti ll em i nent l y grat i
fyin g though happi ly i t i s com m on o f you r
co nt i nued good heal th an d peaceable s ituat ion
T h e t im es are hard m y m an ; an d the hope
of thei r improvem ent i s s til l d istant : but w ith
a sou n d body and a free sp i rit ou r l i fe is not
wi thou t i ts charm s
I am got better co ns iderabl y i n po i nt of
heal th s o be not u neasy o n that score H eal th
I feel to be th e greatest o f al l earthly goods
th e bas is o f th em al l ; and therefore I S h a ll
study the mai ntenance of it wi th p ri mary care
I get low very low i n spi ri ts when the clay
se e

82

TO

ALEXA NDER CARL YLE

31 1

house i s out o f repai r i ndeed I al most th i nk at

s uch t i mes that heal th alon e wou l d m ake m e
happy ; an d i n fact when stro ng outwardly I
seldom fee l depressed with i n
I h av e
t rans l ated a portio n of S ch i ll er s H is to ry of tb e
Tlz irty Yea rs W a r (i t is al l about G ustav us
and the fel l ow so l dados o f D u g al d D a lge t t y
you r dear l y be l oved fri end ) ; and sen t i t off
with a l etter i ntroduced by T ai t the R ev i ew
bookseller to Lo n gm a n s and C o L o ndon
T ai t was to send i t away very soon i n a
package of newly pub l ished books and to
accompany i t w i th a l etter s ett ing forth that I
was o ne o f the most hopeful youths o f the part
an d that hence i t were wel l for the m en of
Paternoster Ro w to secure m y c o operatio n
forthwith T h e answe r w il l com e i n (perhaps )
th ree week s To say truth m y B roth e r I am
not sangu i ne i n th i s m atter : B u t no w i s not
th e ti me to d iscuss it both because m y pape r
is wan i n g and because out o f fatigue from
t ravell i n g I m i g h t give yo u too dark a p ictu re
o f that and al l m y othe r sch emes
I rv i ng is a k i nd g ood fellow H e woul d
,

LE TTERS

b 12
)

TH O/W A S

OF

CARL YLE

82

h ave m e com e an d spend some m onths wi th

h im because he though t I fe l t u n com fo rtab l e
here ; and he had al l the sappy hospi tal i ty o f
B ail ie J arv i e s ch ildren at comm and W i l l iam
G raham i s a ls o a fri end and a deserv i ng o ne
I coul d pass my ti m e swi mm i ngly among them
bu t I m ust work w it/i my o w n b a n ds and work
wh il e i t i s cal l ed to day Y ou can not co nce i v e
what a week I have h ad
F at co ntented
m erchants S hovell i ng thei r beef ove r by the
pou nd and s wi l l i ng the i r wi ne without m easu re
dec l ai m i ng o n pol itics and rel igio n j ok i ng and
j eeri ng and ow i ng and swaggeri ng a l ong wi th
al l the i r heart I v iewed them with a curious
o fte n wi th a satised eye B ut the re is a t i m e
fo r all L ast n ight I w a s l iste n i ng to m us i c
and the vo ice o f song am i d dandy c l erks and
sparkl i ng fema l es ; l augh i ng at ti mes eve n to
soreness at the m arvellous D r J oh n S cott
s e e B la ck w o o d s M a a z in e ) ; an d to n ight
I
(
g
am a lo n e i n th is co l d c i ty alo ne to cu t m y
,

ercha nt i n G las g o w a n d L a i r d of B
d ale of w hom t here i s a lo ng accou nt i n t he
M

64

u rn sw a rk

Re m i n

i n A nn a n
i
i
s cen ces ,

A LEXA ND ER CA RL YLE

T0

82 1

313

way into th e heart of its b e n e c e s by th e

weapons o f m y own small qu iver Y et l et us
be of cheer for b ra w days a re c o m in : an d
now m y boy at th is noisy seaso n accept the
prayer pu t u p fo r yo u and al l our fam ily that
many n ew y ears and far h appier o nes may be
i n store fo r each of u s that we m ay all love
on e another here and i n due t i m e b e made t fo r
that better land where the j ust S hall ourish
where th e w ickedness of m en an d the pai nful
ness o f N atu re S hal l be h i d from u s and peace
and V i rtue subst ituted i n the i r ro o m l E ver
y ou rs
T IIO M A S CAR LYL E
.

L V I T A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
.

E DIN BURG H o t/z j

,

M a in h ill

a n u a r

82

M Y D E AR B ROT IIE R

M y possess ions
o f worldl y com fort are stil l mostly i n p e rsp ec t ive
Y et I l i ve i n hope and no sooner i s o ne scheme
blasted than anothe r s p ri ngs u p i nstead o f i t
B rewster i s to settl e wi th m e about m y w rit ings
wheneve r I l ike to go over and what m tg/i t be
better Ire p rofesses g reat read i ness to fu rn ish
.

LE TTERS

3 14

OF

TH O/W A S

CA RL YL E

1 82 1

m e wi th a l etter of i ntroductio n to T homas

C ampbe ll who has l atel y bee n appoi nted E d ito r
o f a M agaz i ne i n L o ndon the publ ishers o f
wh i ch are said to offer abou t fteen gu i neas a
sheet I m u st try somewhat fo r C ampbell 0
fo r o ne day o f such v igorous heal th and s uch
e l ast i c sp i ri ts as I h av e had o f ol d ! I wil l try
however B rewster cam e to m e o n the street
to day and ta l ked l o ng : h e seem s to feel th at I
can b e of som e use to h im and tb erefo re he
t reats m e ge nt l y I was at d i nner w i th h i m th e
othe r day ; and tne re were P rofesso r Wa ll is
Tel ford the engi neer J ard i ne another of th e
sam e and o ne W righ t a very ugly loud
S peak i ng m an
T hey are persons to hear
whom woul d make one adm ire how they have
go t the name and the emo l ument they e nj oy

at p resent Tel ford spoke o f h is friend the

D uke of th is and h is friend the M arqu is of

that al l ho nou rabl e men
I l eft the party
w ithout regret to s u p w ith l ittl e M u rray (you
recollect abou t h im ) where was to appear
M D ia rm id o f D um fries an d M C u llo c h the
great M C u llo c h better known to you as the
,

82 1

A LEXA NDER CA RL YLE

TO

315

S cotsman
M C u llo c h fell s ick and we h ad
to co ntent ou rsel ves w ith o ne o f h is coadj utors
a b road faced j olly speculat i ng m uddle
headed person called R i tch ie
I deb ated
w ith R itch ie i n a v ery desultory s tyl e about
p oetry and pol i tics l ess to h is e di c a t io n th an
su rprise ; an d th e dapper l ittl e M D ia rm id
sa t
by as umpi re of the s tri fe
M D ia rm id

i s not
an elegan t gent l eman ;
in
m ental qual ities he i s est imable rather than
o the rwise showy but u nsubstantial b road bu t
shallow
A fte r all perhaps I shall fall i nto som e agree
able soc iety he re and nall y be restored to
someth i ng l ike steady peace an d com fort I n
th e m eant ime as yo u remark I ough t to be
thankful that I am as I am W i tness Waugh !
sad emblem o f i mp rudence ! H u nted by d u ns
d esti tute o f cash h e h as left h is lu g gage to
m ake good the paym en t of h i s lod g i n and is
now wi nd i n g h is z i g zag way amon g the pu rse
bearers of A n nandale to raise a l i ttl e mo ney
c

o
g

become s ti l l be tt er k n o w n as a w r it er o n
E co n omy a n d t he com pi ler of var i ous useful w orks
1

To

ol i ti cal

LE TTERS

3 16

CA RL YLE

TH O/HA S

OF

1 82 1

from the wrecks of h is prosperi ty N o o ne but

p ities Waugh no one but blames h i m
.

E
nd
o
f
letter
awanti
ng
[
]

LV I I T
.

M OT H E R

E DIN B R G H

h is

l o t /z

M a in h ill

g/z t

e dn e s da y n z

ja n u a r y

82

D E AR M OT H E R
I am afraid that
you take my case too deep l y to h eart I t i s
true I am to il ing o n th e waves and m y v essel
l ooks but l i ke a l ight canoe ; yet su rely th e
harbou r i s before m e and i n soberness wh en I
com pare m y tackle wi th th at of others I can not
dou bt hardl y that I S hall get wi th i n th e p i er at
last Wi thout gu re I am not a gen i us but a
rather s harp youth d isco ntented and partly
m ism anaged ready to work at aught but teach
i ng and to b e sat ised wi th th e ord i nary re c o m
p ense o f every ho nest s o n of A dam food and
rai me n t and com mo n respectab il i ty C an I fail
to get them i f I co ntinu e steadfast ? N o I
can not fail T he way i ndeed is weary ; i t l eads
th rough a dry parched l and wherei n few waters
MY

TO H I S

1 82 1

M O HER

317

b e ; bu t how happy i t is that I j ourney u m

attended by Remorse ! that m y conscience
though i t wou nd does not sti ng m e ; that m y
heart whe n i t fai nts does not co ndem n ! I
ough t to b e grateful that i t i s s o ; and to b ear

th ese l igh t af ict io ns cal ml y they are not

sen t w ithou t need
Y o u observe M oth er I ta l k about m y o wn
affai rs m ost uently yet there are other affairs
about wh ich I am anyth i ng rathe r than in
It w ill be changing th e d i rect io n
d i ffere n t
mo re than th e nature o f m y though ts (for th is
also is one o f m y co ncerns ) i f I i nqu i re parti e
u la rl
i
nto
you
r
S
i
tuatio
n
at
a in h ill
M
w
o
H
y
?
are yo u
T el l m e largely when you write I
fear you r h eal th i s feeble : I co nj u re you be
careful o f i t D o you ge t tea the weary tea
a lo n e now
B y the l i ttl e table be n the house ?
I ad vise you to use i t freque ntl y : i t i s excellen t
fo r weak s tomachs A n d do not I e ntreat you
let any cons ide rations o f th ri ft o r s uch th i ngs
restrai n yo u i n those cases N one o f us is rich ;
but we should certai nl y be poor i ndeed i f
amo ng us we could not m uster enou g h fo r
,

LE TTERS

318

CA RL YLE

TH O/II A S

OF

1 82 1

such a purpose K eep yoursel f from col d most

careful ly th is u nheal thy season and read the
IVo rt/i ies o r anyth ing that w il l satis fy that h igh
enthus iasm o f you r m i nd wh ich however yo u
m ay disbel ieve i t is qu ite o f a p iece w i th m y
own
D o you still get the R ep o s ito ry ?
I
observe there is to be a fresh M agaz in e at
Glasgo w embraci ng th e i nterests of th e
I wish i t cou l d be
U n ite d S ecess io n C h urch
got fo r you
B u t here I m ust e nd A happy n ew year to
you m y dear M other and m any m any of them
to be a bless i ng to us a l l ! Wri te to m e next
t im e i n the most ample m an ner
M y best
love to al l th e ch i l d re n E ve r you r affectio nate
T H O MA S CAR LY L E
so n
.

D o you care abou t that sh ? O ne ki nd

cos ts 3 %d the othe r 2 %d per pou nd B oil i t
change th e water and be it butter
.

S co t ch for a dd

82 1

TO

7 OH N

CA R L YL

319

L V I I I T J O H N A C AR LYLE A n
o

E D IN BUR G H

t o t/i

an

Febru a y
r

82

I send you th e V irgil m y dear J ack accord

i ng to prom ise ; and I need n o t say how m uch
I wish you l uck i n th e perusal o f i t B y hel p
of the notes an d m argi nal i nterpretat ion espe
c ia lly i f D av i d still cont in ues w ith you I do
not expect that you wil l nd m uch d i f cul ty i n
penetrat i ng the m ean i ng o f th is harmon ious
s i nger and though you are not l ikel y to recko n

h i m the P ri n ce o f P oets you are stil l l ess

l ikel y to m iss be i ng st ruck w ith the h igh e l e
gan ce and regular owi ng pomp both of h is
though ts and l anguage
I have a long sh eet here b efore m e boy
and t he co nsc iousness that I have lately wri tte n
you th ree o r fou r m os t lea den letters to i nsp i re
m e wi th greate r eagerness for ame ndme n t but
alas ! i t i s no t to day that I can ame nd I have
not bee n i n worse t ri m fo r w ri ti ng th is twel ve
m o nth If you s a w m e s i tti n g here w ith m y
l ean and sall ow V isa g e yo u would wonde r how
those long b l oodless bony ngers could be m ade
,

LE TTERS

3 20

OF

TH OllIA S

CARL YLE

82 1

to m ove at al l eve n though the ach i ng b rai n

were b y m i racl e e nabled to suppl y them w i th
m aterials i n suf c ien t abundance I h av e bee n
s i ck ve ry s ick s i nce M o nday l as t i ndeed I
have scarcel y bee n o n e da y right s i nce I came
back to th is accu rsed sti nk ing reeky m ass o f
sto nes a nd l i me an d d ung
Were i t by m oral
su fferi ng that one su nk b y opp ress ion love o r
hatred or th e thousand ways of heartbreak it
m igh t be to l erable there m igh t at l east be som e
d ign i ty i n th e fall ; bu t here I co nj ure thee
J ack to watch o v er thy health as the most
precious o f earthly th i ngs I bel iev e at th is
m oment I would consent to becom e as ignorant
as a C hoctaw s o I were as sou nd o f body
U pon th e whol e i t seems v ery c ruel i n me
to descri be m y m iseries i n s uch glowi ng colou rs
does
i
t
not
and
m
ake
you
u
nhappy
whe
n
al
l
(
that you can do for m e i s to be u nhappy o n m y
accoun t T he th i ng i s s o I do adm i t J ack
bu t real ly I am gro wn a v ery weak creature of
l ate T he h eart longs for som e k i nd o f s ym
pathy : an d i n E d i nbu rgh I nd l ittle of it
except from the wel l meant though i neffectual
.

TO

82 1

:
7 0H N

A CA RL YLE

32 1

k i nd ness o f Geo J oh nston wh o I ndeed watches

over me very attent ively
H ere was the grit
s t o n e theo l ogian C ro ne about hal f a n hour ago
h e had cal l ed upo n m e twi ce no t to ask fo r
m y wel fare bu t to glean i n form at io n abou t a
h i sto ry o f the West I ndi es i nform at ion wh ich
the dog mea ns to utter as h is own i n some
hous e where he is teach i ng H e said h e was
v ery sorry for m e : I could have th rown h i m
o ut at th e wi ndow fo r h is sorro w bu t co ntented
myse l f w i th sayi ng that I k new wel l how deepl y
m y co nd i tio n affected h i s most com pass ionate
so ul
Y ou need not tel l any o ne o f those th ings
except S andy no t ou r M other o r Father i t
woul d but vex them ; and they are not young
an d strong and ful l o f hope l i ke yo u to s tand
v e xat io n N or woul d I h ave you to t rouble
yo ursel ves m uch o n my accoun t I s hal l su rel y
get ove r th is yet : and i f sum me r were com e I
a m th i nk i ng i t wil l be wel l to sec ure quarters
abou t K i rkcal dy o r som e bath i ng town and trans
po rt mysel f th i the r w i th al l my tackle to e nj oy
th e m a n i fol d bene ts o f s uch a statio n T he re
.

V OL

v
.

LE TTERS

32 2

THO M A S CARL YLE

OF

82 1

i s a proj ec t o n foot about translati ng one

D A u b u is so n a F re nchman s geology a l arge
book for the rst edit ion o f wh i ch I am to have
6 0 gu ineas th e s am e s u m for eve ry succeed i ng
ed itio n B rews te r was ve ry d il igent i n forward
i ng i t ; and though I nei ther l i ke the book nor
th e term s ex cess ivel y I feel m uch obl iged to
h i m fo r h is co n duct T here is a l so an ed it io n
of [se a l c ove rs]works w ith a L i fe about wh i ch
I [was ]speak i ng to T ai t and [I hav e ]not ye t
bee n abl e to go and hear h is answe r wh ich
h oweve r I do not s trongl y expect to b e favo ur
able N o w wi th som e s uch j ob a s o ne o f those
with good s ea b reezes and dece n t people
abou t m e I th i n k I could get qu ite who l e and
wel l afte r a ll that s com e and gone T h is grie v
ous state o f languor an d deb il i ty th e o n ly t h i ng
that can b reak my heart I feel i ncl i ned to
hope m ay be bu t tempo rary the trans itio n from
you th to hardened m anhood : i n a year o r two
i t m ay be al l gone T here is Waugh (ey m o n l
etc ) was once ill and now neve r k nows the
nam e of d istempe r D o n ot m i n d m e then
m y boy : be d il igent at you r stud ies yet care

82 1

TO

A LEXA NDER CARL YLE

32 3

fu l

of excess ; and next wi nter you w i ll l ive

w i th m e h ere and be m y co mfo rter and I w ill
b e your tuto r i n return G i ve m y warmest lov e
to a l l at M a in h ill
R emember m e to B en
N elso n i f yo u se e h i m Y ou r affection ate
bro her
T H O MA S CAR LYL E
,

J oh n F ergusso n i s com e i n and I h av e co n

s ented to crawl out w ith h i m an d try th e S t
B e rnard s sp a a fou ntai n o n th e no rth of
E d i nbu rgh
,

LIX

T o

A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
K

I R K C A ID Y,

9 t/i

M a in h ill

Feb ru a ry

82

I k now there is wi th i n m e som eth i ng

dife re n t fro m the v ulgar herd o f mo rtals ; I
th i nk i t i s someth i ng s u p e r io r ; and i f o nce I
h ad overpassed thos e bogs and b rakes and
quagm i res that l ie betwee n m e and th e free
arena 1 shal l m ake som e fellows s tan d to the
ri g h t and l eft o r I m istak e m e greatl y
I accom p an ied I rv i ng ove r here o n S atu rday
l ast too k u p my abode at the P rovost S wan s
f

3 24

LE TTERS

TH O/II A S

OF

'

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

and as o n al l hands th ey k i ndly In vrte m e to

co nti nue I h ave al l owed I rv i ng to retu rn and
I am to cont i nue here fo r a few days
A l ready the sea b reezes are act i ng bene
c ia lly o n m e ; and i n two o r th ree d ays I ex
pe e t t hey will have s e t m e i n such a case that
zealous exerc ise w ill keep m e moderately wel l
i n t/i a t ol d s moky ci ty the smoke o f wh ich I
s i cke n a t eve n wh ile v iew i ng i t ac ross the
pure azu re fri th o f Fo rth
Y o u k now th is

l ong town an d you can easily co nce ive wi th

what emo tions of m el ancholy p l easu re o f j oy
an d sadness I traverse al l th e well known turn
i ngs o f it T he re is someth i ng mou rnful i n the
V iew of a ha l f forgotten scene associated wi th
many of ou r pai ns and pleasures someth i ng
that reects back o n us the rap id never ceasi ng
i g h t of ti me and m akes us solem n o r pens ive
eve n though ou r recol l ections m ay be most l y of
sorrows that we are now escaped from I V iew
K i rkca l dy l ike an ol d acquai ntance that is fast
forgett i ng me that I am fast forgetti ng : yet
there are some peo p l e i n i t whom I could w ish
to remembe r and be remembered by T hey
,

82 1

T O H IS

are not many

that

FA THER

32 5

they are the more valuab l e fo r

LX

T o

h is F A T H E R , M a in h ill

E D IN BUR G H

5 t/t

Feb ru a ry

82

D E A R F A T H E R Y ou woul d get the

l etter addressed to S an dy from K i rkcal dy abou t
T hu rsday morn i ng ; an d I t rust i t woul d hav e
th e effect of cal m i ng your so l i ci tude o n accou nt
o f m y heal th and outward wel fare abou t wh ich
I h ave latel y give n you s o m uch u np rotable
anxiety T he s e a b reezes o f F i fe and the k i n d
attent io ns o f its i n hab itants produced th e most
sal utary results o n m e ; I grew better every
day an d i n th e cou rs e o f a few weeks I doubt
not I should have bee n as stro ng as eve r at any
period o f m y l i fe I t was w i th regret that I
quitted them o n F riday to meet I rv i ng here
who h owever i n the i nteri m had bee n forced
to retu rn hom e I fel t i n a state o f dec ided
co nval escence wh ich I am ha pp y to add has
s i nce co nt i nued wi thout i nterru p tion
MY

A t p resen t

l ook fo r w ard to a busy and

LE TTERS

326

THO M A S CA RL YLE

OF

1 82 1

the re fo re a co nte nted su mmer i n wh ich I shal l

accomp l ish m uch and among other th i ngs th e
l ong wished fo r res u l ts o f gai n i ng for m ysel f
som e perm an en t em ployment s o that I may n o
longer wande r about th e earth a m op i ng hypo
c h o n dria c
th e soul eat i ng up itsel f for want o f
som eth i ng else to act upon o r a withered school
maste r eye i ng m y fellow m en wi th a suspi c io n
an d sol i tary sh ri nki ng wh ic h shoul d be pecul iar
to felo ns an d oth er V io l ators o f the l aw
I n fact m atters hav e a mo re prom is i ng
appearan ce w ith m e at th e p resen t date than
they h av e had for a l ong season
B es ides
J ack s letter and som e othe rs wh i ch awai ted m y
retu rn fro m F i fe th e re was o n e wh i ch I read
wi th i ndi fferen ce abandon i ng th e proposed u n
de rt a k in g of transl ati ng D A u b u is so n (for wh i ch
co nsu l t S andy ) ; and one wh ich I read with
considerabl e i nte rest pro fferi ng to m e o n the
part o f B ookseller T ai t to beco m e a ca n di da te
fo r th e translat i ng of a F re nch book M a lte bru n s
Ge ogra p /zy wh i ch o ne A dam B lack
Tai t s
brother in l aw i s engag ed wi th at present and
des igns to p u t i nto fresh hands T wo perso ns
,

1821

T O H IS

FA THER

32 7

unknown
to
m
e
are
to
s
ubm
it
sp
ecimens
o
f
(
)
the i r work I am to do s o l i kew ise ; an d T ai t
as su res m e th at i f B lack had k now n sooner
there woul d h ave been no competition i n the
c as e S o that I am not w ithout hope o f getti ng
th is j ob a n d i f th e j udge b e a correct on e of
deserv i ng i t Y ou m ay th i n k th e l atter prov iso
is l ike d ropp i ng feath er beds o ut o f a w i ndo w
from wh ich o n e is soon to be precipi tated i n
perso n : b ut w ith i n m y own m i nd I feel a k i nd
o f ass urance that I can su rpass m y fel low t rans
l ato rs u nles s they are far supe rio r to the usual
ru n o f such c reatu res A nd i f I d i v i n e right i t
wi ll be ve ry advan tageous for m e : a steady
emp l oym en t (th e book exte nds to ve o r s ix

large vol umes o f wh ich o nl y o ne an d a part

are n ished ) that I can add ress m ysel f to i n any
h umou r for i t requ i res no s tudy ; an d by means
o f wh ich i t woul d not be d i f cul t to clear the
matte r o f 2 00 pe r an num fo r a co ns iderabl e
ti me I shall hear o f i t by and b y l i ke e nough
I may fail i n those ex pectations b ut we can do
e i th er way
,

LE TTERS

32 8

TH OllI A S

OF

'

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

B ut m y S heet i s done and m y feet are col d

good reasons both for d rawi ng to a c l ose I

l ong to hear news o f you all ; but I suppose
F a rrie s had stol en a m arch o n you o r you e x

M
y
love
to
al
l
th
er
E
v
er
t
e d m e hom e
e
c
e
p
you r affectionate s o n
T H O MA S C A PLY L E
.

G eorge J oh ns ton an d I h av e bee n wo rk i ng

l
b
r
u
n
a l l d ay at M a t e
o r I wou l d have wri tten
to J ack and S andy T hey o f cou rse w il l wri te
at great l ength next O pportu n ity
.

L X I T J O H N A C AR LYLE A
.

E DI NBUR G H

r ma n

ot h M a rch

82

I hav e wasted th is who l e

D
E
AR
J
A
C
K
MY
b l essed ev en i ng i n read i ng poetry and s tuff
wh i l e I shoul d h av e bee n wr iti ng a substant ial
l i fe of N ecker out of m aterials accumulated
two days ago ; and now that el even o cloc k is
s truck I m ay as wel l devote the remai n ing
h our to you r grat i cat ion a n d my o wn i n
th is new m ode wh ich i f equall y i dle wi th
the m ode i t succeeds h a s at least t he m eri t
,

82 1

N A CARL YLE

7 OH

TO

329

o f am us i ng two at o n ce
I am co n
cleare
r
than
whe
n
I
wrote
to
S
andy
s ide ra b l
y
th e day before yesterd ay an d I should h ave
been still mo re s o h ad no t th i s afternoo n been
wet a nd s o prev ented m e fro m b reath i ng the
ai r of A rthu r s S eat a mou ntai n close bes ide us
where the atmosphere is pu re as a d iamond
an d th e p rospect grander than any you ever
sa w
T he bl ue maj esti c ev erlasti ng ocean
w ith the F i fe h ill s swel l i ng gradual l y i n to t he
G ramp ians beh i n d i t o n the north ; rough crags

an d rude precipices at ou r fee t ( where no t a

h illock rears i ts head
w i th E d i nburgh
at the i r base cl usteri ng p ro udly o ver he r rugged
fou ndat ion s and cov eri ng w i th a vapou ry m antle
the j agged black ve ne rabl e m asses o f ston e
work th at stretch far and w ide an d S how l i ke a
c i ty o f fai ryland T he re s fo r you man ! I saw
i t al l l ast eve n i n g whe n the s un was go i ng
down and th e m oo n s n e c resce n t (l i ke a
p retty s il ve r creatu re as i t is ) was rid i n g qu ietly
above m e
S uch a s i g h t does o n e good ;
thou g h n one be the re to share i t exce p t th e

J urisconsul t
p oo rest o f th e so ns o f earth
.

LE TTERS

3 30

OF

CA RL YLE

TH O/W A S

1 82 1

B ut I am lead i ng yo u ast ray after m y

fantas ies when I S houl d b e i nd i ti ng plai n
prose I t is pai n ful for m e to l earn that you
al ready begi n to experie nce th e effects o f too
close appl icatio n L et i t be a warn i ng m y
dear J ack I solem nly charge you ; o r the issue
wil l m ak e you repe nt i t b i tter l y when i t can not
be rem ed ied W hy do you s it s o co nstantl y
pori ng over books ? G o out I te ll you ; and
ta l k w i th a ny mortal to rel ieve you r m i nd rather
than co nverse perpetual ly w ith the imagi natio n
?
What wou l d you be at man
Y ou r learn i ng
i s advanced m ost res pectably ; an d depend upo n
i t there i s a l earn i ng m o re av ai labl e o fte n th an
the l earn i ng of books
the l earn i ng o f the ways
of m en wh i ch can no t b e acqu i red except from
co nvers i ng w i th th em an d observ i ng them
S peak w i th all ho nest m en th en ente r i nto
thei r v iews an d be on e o f th em
I h av e
suffered deepl y from igno rance of th is counsel
wh ich I offer yo u w i th all th e warm th o f fraternal
affect ion D o no t d is regard i t I woul d adv i se
you al so to beth i nk yo u o f som e P rofess io n o n
wh i ch to x you r endeavou rs ; for i t i s an u n
.

1 82 1

To

7 0H IV

CA R L YL

33 I

l ucky th i ng to be d ri fti ng o n the waves of

chan ce as I am no w an d m ust l ong be wi thou t
compan io n or gu ide o n m y t rack wh i ch for
aught I know m ay l ead m e i nto W h i rlpool s o r
b reakers after al l
W hat th i n k you of the
C hu rch
O r o f M ed ic i n e
O r c a n yo u teach
fo r a l i vel ihood ? C o ns i de r th is matte r and
wri te m e abou t i t full y I n fact yo u m us t study
to be m ore cop ious i n you r details he nceforth
?
Is not p aper cheap th e postage noth i ng
And
what need fo r cari ng li o w yo u wri te to m e
Tel l m e everyth i ng wh eth er you are m erry or
s a d b usy o r idle you r whol e m a n ie re d et re
e t d eoc is t e r
I s Waugh st il l w i th you ? Re
member m e to th e l uckless A re you teach i ng
?
Ben
I s D av ie teach i ng you ? H ow do you
?
?
M
a
i
n
h
ill
l ike M aro
H ow are they at
etc
etc etc
B u t hark ! th e l ugubrious chant o fo u r watch

r
n an
li a a lfp a a st twel ve !
S o G ood n i g ht
my boy G o to M a in h ill o n S aturday and say
that m y heart th anks them fo r al l thei r k i nd
ness ; an d th at i f I do not g et q u ite wel l i n a
week o r two I wil l p ro t by i t M y love to
,

LE TTERS

them al l
bro ther

LX I I

n om

i n a t im

CARL YLE

TH OllI A S

OF

1 82 1

I remai n you r affectio nate

T H O MA S C AR LY LE
T o

M r R M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M
.

E DI N BUR G H

8 1/r M a

rc /i

a n se

82 1

M Y D E AR M I T C H ELL
I hav e j ust read ove r

you r l etter an d to s how yo u that I am not

altogether ext i ngu ished i n S l oth I s it down to
pen an ans wer i nstantly T he colossa l Wal l en
stei n w ith T hek l a the angel ica l and M ax he r
i mpetuous lofty m i nded lov er are al l go ne to
rest ; I ha ve closed S ch i l l er for a n ight ; and
what can I do better th an chat fo r one short
hour w i th m y ol d m y earl iest friend ? I h a v e
noth i ng to tel l you i t is t rue ; b u t the m ere
neigh bou rhood o f you r i mage b ri ngs s o m any
pleas i ng though pens ive reco ll ections s o m any
shadows of departed years al ong wi th i t that I
m ay wel l wri te w it/z o u t hav i ng anyth i n g to s a y
A n d do no t fear m y gentle brother that I w ill
lead yo u i n to the m azes o f K antism ; I k now
you have bu t a l i m i ted rel ish fo r su ch mysteries
and among my m any faul ts an e nemy even would
,

TO M R

82 1

R O B ER T

III I T CH E LL

333

not reckon the i nord i nate des i re o f m aki ng

p roselytes A s to K ant an d S chell ing an d
F i chte and al l those worth ies I con fess mysel f
but an esoteri c after al l ; and whoever can
i magi ne th at S tewart and H ume w ith R eid and
B rown to hel p them hav e sou nded al l the
depths o f ou r natu re o r wh i ch is better can
co ntri ve to ov erlook those mysteries enti rely
is too fortunate a gentlem an fo r m e to i nter
meddl e w i th N o r shal l I troubl e you wi th my

V iews o f m en a t least not greatly ; and for a

l ike reaso n I have been a sol itary d reamer
a l l m y days wrapt up i n d i m i magi n ings
strange fantas ies and gleam s o f al l th i ngs ; s o
that when I giv e utte rance to th e se nsations
produced o n m e by th e actual v ul g ar narrow
stup id worl d of real ities yo u ve ry j ustly th i n k
m e o n th e v e rge o f c om a B u t tol eration m an
tole ratio n i s al l I ask and what I am ready to
g iv e D o you take you r Lip s iu s you r C rom b ie
you r S c h w e igh a u s e r ; an d let m e be do i n g
w ith L ake p oets M yst ics o r any t rash I can
fa ll i n wi th why should we n o t cas t an eye o f
cheeri ng gi ve a vo i ce o f welcome to each
,

'

LE TTERS

33 4

OF

TH O/IIA S

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

other as our paths become m u tual ly v is i b l e

though th ey are n o longer o n e
I meant to giv e you m y h istory fo r th e b y
gone m onths It is eas i ly done I have had
the m os t m iserable h eal th was i n a low fever
for two weeks latel y m ed i tat i ng to come hom e
and actual l y d i d elo p e to F i fe ; and du ri ng al l
the w i nter I h av e h ad s uch del ightful com
pan ion s to i n terrupt m y long sol i tudes s uch
i ntellectual h igh sp i ri ted m e n as you have no
idea of M y p rogress has bee n p roport ionab l e
I t boots not as you s a y to i ndulge reproach ful
afterth ough ts I n deed I h ave begu n to appl y
the all co nsum i ng m ax i m c u i b o n o ? to study as
well as othe r th i ngs ; an d to ask how can i t
s erve o ne to be learned and re n ed and
el e v ate ? Is i t not to imb ibe a feel i ng of p ity
fo r th e i n noce nt dol ts arou n d o n e a nd o f dis
g ust (al as ! ) at th e th is tles an d fu rz e upon wh ich
?
they are fari ng s umptuously every day
The
most en v i abl e th i ng I often th i nk i n a ll the
world m ust be th e soundes t o f th e seven
sl eepers : fo r h e reposes dee p ly i n h is co rner ;
and to h i m the t ragi com edy o f l i fe i s as pain
,

TO M R

82 1

RO B ER T

III I T CH E LL

33 5

less as i t is paltry B ut to return I have tri ed

about twenty plans th is w i nter i n th e way o f
authorsh ip ; th ey h av e al l fai l ed ; I h av e abou t
twenty more to try : and
i t does but
pl ease the D i recto r of all th i ngs to con ti nue
th e m oderate sh are of heal th now restored to
m e I w ill m ake the doors o f h um an soc iety
y ope n befo re m e yet notwi th stand i ng m y
petards w il l no t burst o r m ake only n o ise wh en
th ey do : I m us t m i x th em b ette r plant them
m ore j ud iciou sl y ; they s/i a ll bu rst and d o
execut ion too B u t all th is you s a y i s noth i ng
to th e po i nt w /z a t are yo u do i ng ? T each i ng
two D and ies M athemat i cs ; who leav e m e (I o
B a cc/z e l) i n a m on th ; comp il i ng for E n c yc lo
d
a s hewi ng o f wood and d raw i ng o f water ;
ae
i
p
(
)
I was translati ng an d am soo n to R ev i ew
Waugh has rel ented fo r h i s book i s reel i n g
l i k e a d runke n m an got h i mself re i ntro d uced
to me and sen t ove r a book lately J oan na
B aill ie s L ege n ds so I beg S i r you will V i ew
the em bryo A ristarch us wi th al l the grav i ty i n
you r p ower
B ut to reto rt the ques tion what are yo u
.

LE TTERS

3 36

OF

CA RL YLE

TH OIII A S

182 1

do i ng ? A re su ch gen iuses as we th i nk you

to l ive c ramm ed up as i t were i n the stocks
pi n fol ded thus and S hut out from al l the cheer
ful ways of m en for ever
A nd what are th e
l evers you i n tend to use ? T ell m e seriously
and th i nk o f i t seri ously fo r i t dem ands co n
s ideration I th i nk your class i ca l teach i ng p l an
b i ds fai r i f you m ature i t wel l ; and reall y I
wou l d not adv ise any o ne to lau nch as I was
fo rced to do upo n the roari ng deep s o l ong a s
he can stay ashore Fo r m e the s u rges and
th e storm are rou nd m y S k i ff yet I m ust o n
on l est b iscu i t fail m e ere I reach th e t rade
wi nd and sail w i th o thers
T h i s I co nfess i s a very pragm at ical F ra n /
D ixo n is/z way o f talk i ng to you ; but i t i s too
l ate now for m end i ng i t I shal l be l ess gu ra

t iv e next t i me
M y address i s i n you r
h ands s e e how you wil l use it d il igen t l y and
soon i f you care a farth i ng for you r o l d friend
,

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

HIS

TO

82 1

LX I I I T
.

h is

O THER

M OT H E R

E D IN BURGH

33 7

M a in h ill

IVe dn esda y m o rn in g
/

[ilI a rc/t

82

M OT H E R T hough you have not

sai d a word to m e personally for a great wh ile
I am well aware th at th ere i s no o ne i n the
wo rl d wh o h as experienced m ore anxiety on
my accou nt of l ate o r w ill experience more
satisfactio n at bei ng tol d that I am now
rel ieved from m y state of languor and p ai n i nto
a state o f comparat ive stre ngth and ha p p i ness
I know not whether I am rightl y thank ful to
Prov id ence fo r th is great bless i ng bu t certai nly

I am u n c o gle d as you r pau p e r said ; and I

can not res ist the d es i re o f com mu n i cati ng the
a g reeabl e i ntell igence to you mysel f though
ve ry m uch straitened i n t ime and obl i g ed as
you s e e to co nte n t mysel f w i th a hal f sheet
n ot w ithstand i ng you r wel l k nown re p ugn ance
to such p en u rious doi n g s
A no the r obj ect
wh ich I hav e i n V ie w i n w ri ti n g to you is to
i nqu i re m ost m i nutel y i n to you r own state o f
M Y D E AR

VOL

rea t ly p leased

LE TTERS

338

OF

CA RL YLE

TH O/IIA S

1 82 1

heal th wh ich I fear is noth i ng s o good as i t

sh oul d be M y dear M other let m e cou nsel
you to spare no troubl e o r care w ith regard to
th is E ndeavou r to avo i d al l th i ngs th at w ill
fre t o r d iscom pose you r m i nd be as m uch as
poss ibl e i n th e open ai r and go about to v is i t
you r friends and acquai ntance i n the neigh
b o u rh o o d whenever you can by any means go
I am most an xio us to h ear a ful l and fa it/ifu l
accou n t o f th is m atter from you r o wn h and
,

Y ou m ust write to m e i f yo u can nd a ny

t i me I am ignorant and not pati ently ignoran t
of all yo ur m ovem e nts Y ou m ust send m e a
descriptio n of the whole F o r m ysel f b es ides
what I h av e detailed i n m any recen t letters to
m y various correspo nde nts at M a in h ill th ere i s
l ittle that I can add at presen t I wri te a very
l ittl e read som e and wal k some ; and that is
almost all my h istory L as t S abbath I was to
hear D r M C rie (A utho r o f K n ox H is L ife )
who preaches to [a]few poor people w ith i n two
o r th ree h u ndred yards of th is H e i s an earnest
l ooki ng l ea n acute m i nded m an ; wi th m uch
,

182 1

? 0H

TO

CA R L YL E

3 39

learn i ng and thought but no eloquence I t d id

m e good to see the poor people wi th the i r clean
faces thei r atte nti ve looks and to hear ou r ow n
old S t Pa u l s an d S t Pete r s (venerable t u nes
chanted wi th so m uch alacri ty and a p parent
dev outness
I t b rough t the l i ttl e m eeti n g
house at home and al l the i n nocent j oyance o f
ch ild hood back to m i ngle strangely w ith th e
agi tatio ns of after l i fe B ut I have do ne I s
there any book that I c an get you o r a ny th i ng
that I can do for yo u ? S peak i f th ere is ; and
grati fy yo u r a ffect io nate an d thank ful boy
.

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

LX I V

To

O I IN

A C AR LYLE A m
,

E DIN BURG H

IVe a n e sda y

a n

a n /i
M
[

M Y D E A R J A CK T wel ve o cl ock i s p as t

but
I con de i n G a rt h w a it e s un p u nctual i ty a l i ttle
and se nd you two l i nes of adv ice abo ut you r
stud ies m e rel y fo r about th i s ti me I g uess
yo u are read i n g the lette r sen t by G av i n wh ich
w ill sat is fy yo u o n al l o the r p o i n ts
You have certai nly been ve ry d il i g ent i f you
;

LE TTERS

3 4o

OF

CARL YLE

T/ I O II A S
I

82

can at al l read V i rgil a nd S all ust i n s o short a

time I real ly wo nder at i t Y ou m us t give
u p the G eorgi cs howeve r I th i n k wi thou t
delay T hey are th e m ost u n i nteresti n g and
by far th e most d i f cul t o f al l V i rgil s wri ti ngs
Take to the E nei d i m m ed iately ; yo u w ill l ike
i t far bette r
D o you m i nd the G ram m ar ?
and t he scan n i ng ? A tte nd to b ot/i particularly
Fo r S all ust you can not go wrong C at il i ne is
an adm i rabl e narrati ve ; and the write r of i t
ev e r S hows h i msel f the same ly n x eyed hard
headed b i tte r l ittle te r rie r ; to whom noth i ng
was agreeabl e because noth i n g was pu re ; and
still more because he was not pu re h imsel f
C rispus w a s a r ip of a body i n h is youth
Whe n you read the E ne i d do not fail to adm i re
th e calm graceful ness the statel y and harmon i
ous d iction the c l ear i magi nat io n o f M aro ; but
do not [neglect] to have you r w in n o w c lo t/z
expanded by the grandeu r and i m mensi ty of
M il ton o r you r heart quickened by h is stern
and el evated strength of soul E ach after h is
k i nd T h i nk too th at y o u (poor J ack i n B i tty
Geel s ) do actually read the very words and
.

N A : CARL YLE

3 OH

TO

82 1

'

34 1

adm i re the v ery thoughts that A ugustus read

and adm i red two thousand years ago and al l
great m en s i nce L et th is be a s p u r i n the
head wh i ch i s better than two i n the heel

t han the p ressu re o f want th at is o r the l uc re

of gai n
B ut do n ot do not I repeat i t neglect you r
morn i ng an d even i ng wal ks and you r tal ks
and laughs an d recreations I t is well to read
J oh nson s L ives ; though the m an is prej udi ced
to a p itch (see M ilton and G ray ) he has great
powe r o f head and h is i nsens ib il i ty to th e
h igher beauties o f poetry does no t exten d to
the most com pl i cated quest ions o f reason i ng
H is Rambler i s ve ry good ; bu t not s o amus i ng
C an you not g et S h akespeare o r B yro n

Goldsm ith s essays are c ap it a l

i n style and
l i vel i ness D ean S wi ft i s a me rry gri n n i ng
dog D id yo u ever s e e h is Ta le of a Tu b "
J oh n J oh nston e (M rs D r s ) has i t and wil l lend
it J oh nson s jo u rn ey t o t b c II/ e ste rn Isles i s
l i kewise g ood A nd D o n Q u zlro te read i t till
you r s ides c rack wh ich th ey w il l do i f you h ave
ri si [ble o r]gans T ry i f you can g et R ussel l s
,

LE TTER S

342

TH O/IIA S

OF

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

George I rv i ng
wi l l procu re i t fro m the l ibrary of the burgh
E x cept th e l as t those th i ngs are pri n cipal ly fo r
amusement yet if you attend to th e sty l e and
i m itate i t j ud i cious ly th ey w il l pro t you not a
l ittle A t any rate th ey l l the head pleasan t l y
and therefo re usefully
We shal l tal k of you r school when I com e
home about A ugust or s o
P erhaps you m ay
get som e teach i ng h ere wh i ch w i l l do bette r
Go o n and prosper my boy ! T h ere i s no fear
A dieu l Y our affect ionate b rothe r

is tory f

rop

M o de rn E u

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

L X V T M r R M I T C H ELL R t h w ll M
.

E D I NBUR G H

4tli Ap ril

a n se

82

M Y D E AR M I T C H ELL Y our pupi l G eorge

J oh n hav i ng i t i n V iew to p roceed shortly home

agai n to R uthwell you can not b e s u rprised that
I seize the opportun i ty wh ich th is ci rcumstance
affords me to d isport a l ittl e i n the way o f
i nnocent chat with you an d rel ieve my sol itude
by an e m ble m of society s i nce I can not g et the
,

82 1

TO

III R

R O B ER T

III I T CH E L L

343

real artic l e to my m i nd L e p lu s gra n d des

p la is irs c est l a ba n do n de so i m m e i n order to
e nj oy i t however imperfectl y I h ave k icked
out th e fro lic k s o m e C h ri stopher N orth an d the

M o nth l y
i n sp ite of i ts paralyti c affect ions
wi th a host o f other ec riva ss ie rs who have
b eset m e a ll day ; an d con fused m e w ith thei r
i ncessant and u nm us ical h ubbub d riv i ng all
o l d thoughts away and putt i ng n o new o ne i n
the i r room
I t is natural fo r you to expect that seei ng I
h av e vol unteered a lette r I m ust needs have
som e i mpo rtan t news to tel l you som eth i ng
fresh i n the l iterary wor l d ; o r at l east some
th i ng very s trange i n m y own poo r h i sto ry
N e ithe r of you r suppos i tions is correct T he
l i terary world i s go i ng o n m uch as it was wont
frisk i ng R ev iewers com e forth once a quarter
ti psy M a ga z in e m e n once a month ; both as
usual

T r i p i t as t h e y g o
O t h l i gh t fa nt s t i c t oe
.

and s e e around th em a nam el ess th rong

d ig g i n g l ike m oles at E n c yc lo p ze dia s J o u rnals
,

LE TTERS

344

CA RL YLE

TH OllIA S

OF

82

M o nthly Rev iews etc etc q u ite i n th e ol d sty l e

N or has anyth i ng particular happened to m y
se l f s in ce I wrote las t to you I am mov i ng
o n weary and heavy l aden wi th very ckl e
heal th and m any d iscom forts stil l looki ng
forward to the future (brave future ! ) f
o r al l th e
accom modat ions and e nj oym ents that ren der
l i fe an obj ect of des i re
Tli e n shall I no longer
play a candle s nuffer s part i n th e G reat D ram a
o r i f I do my salary w ill be raised : t/z e n shal l

wh ich yo u s e e i s j ust use and wont

O ur ol d acquai n tances h ere are m any o f
them al iv e ; bu t few v ery few of them anyth i ng

mo re B y th e l ong pos i t iv e p res cript io n they

h av e acqu i red a k i nd o f righ t to l ive and t hey
exercise i t quietly t ravell ing abou t the ci ty to
d i ffuse the kno wledge o f Ru ddim a n an d the
H or n B oo b co nsum i ng a stated s ti nted portio n
of i ndifferent wh isky pun ch sce n t i ng every
breez e for dea d parsons and trusti ng that
P rov idence w ill not be bl i nd to m eri t a lw a ys
S u ch are the nascent p illars of ou r venerable
.

L a tin To ngue w for a

ce nt ury a t leas t wel l k n o w n t o every S co tt i sh schoolboy
1

R u ddim a n

R u di m e n ts

t/ze

as
.

82

T O AI R

RO B ER T

MI

TCHELL

34 5

C hurch
I s e e few of them and des i re to s e e
s till fewer M urray is here w ith lt is Galloway
H istory U pon th e whole M u rray is among
the best o f them
H e h as an i nexhaustible
fund o f activ i ty w ishes greatly to be loved
and takes th e pro p er mode o f becom i ng s o h e
p ossesses i ndeed very l i ttl e m ore th an the sm all
pec u liu m o f k nowledge custom ary i n such
cases but h e h a s some warm th o f heart an d
i s not wi thout gleams o f a gene rous e n t h u s i
asm to che rish though ts a l ittle way exal ted
above the m i re an d clay of m ere phys ical
ex isten ce When M urray can s natch an hou r
from h is far extended pedagogics h e v is i ts m e
no w and then
T h ey h ave got (o n a e n ) i ntell igence o f
F rank D i xo n H e has eate n v i ctual s wi th th e
Governo r o f Be rm udas d ru nk k ill dev il (ru m
toddy ) with m an y o f the p lan te rs the re ; and
g i ves h i g h p rom i se o f bei n g useful i n ill um i nat
i n g th e h eads and ed i fy i n g the hearts both o f
me n and boys o n that e ve r v e x ed isle
,

av i ng n o g ood p ros p ec t of K i rk p romo ti o n i n S co t la n d

he (D i xo n ) had acce pt ed some offer t o be Presby t er i a n cha p la i n
1

LE TTERS

3 46

CA RL YLE

TH OJ I A S

OF

1 82 1

I hear not a wo rd o f poo r J ames J oh nsto ne

?
b
i
t
r
u
m
where
i
n
al
l
th
e
worl
d
is
h
e
U
e ra r
I f at N ew Y ork s til l h e m igh t have an i ntro
ductio n to a rs t rate man there d id I but
k now h i s add ress
Poor J ames ! I cry to
th i n k of th e spo i l er T i m e how h e dashes u s
u nh appy worms far an d w ide no w here n o w
the re in th is no isy v ortex of th i ngs
I t is

but few years s i nce we th ree were no m atter

M y dear M itch ell tho u m us t wri te to m e as
soo n as m ay be D oubt not I sha ll be more
s c ie n t i c a l and ph ilosoph ical an d steady nex t
ti m e I rep l y R eall y the e n d M eph istophe l es
catch es o ne at t i m es E xcuse h i s capers an d
h i s gri ns bel iev i ng th at i n sp ite o f a l l I rem ai n
i n s i nceri ty you r faithfu l friend
.

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

M y k i ndest m ost respectful com pl ime nts to

M r D u ncan and h is L ady
,

a n d p reacher t o t he S co t ch i B ermu d a a n d l i ft e d a n chor

t h i t her w i t h ma n y re g re t s a n d g ood w i shes from us ll
R mi i
i 47
n

n s cen ces ,

1 82 1

TO

ALEXA ND ER CA RL YLE

L X V I T A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
o

E DINBUR G H I
,

I tb

347

M a in h ill

Ap ril

82

M Y D E AR B R OT H E R I had j us t concl uded the

rst m eal of the day now pass i ng ov er m e when

a tal l wen ch i nterru p ted m y re ect io ns by lug
gi ng i n that respectabl e bo x the s igh t o f
wh i ch n ever fails to i nsp ire m e w ith agreeabl e
ideas o f v arious k i nds I t gi ves m e prom ise
not o nly of substantial accom modations fo r the
outward m an bu t also o f i ntell i g e nce refresh i ng
fo r th e i nward man and i t hol ds ou t th e pros
pe e t o f an h ou r o r two to b e spen t agreeably
i n transm itti ng i ntel l ige nce from mysel f i n re
turn T he seco nd grati cat ion I hav e al ready
e nj oyed ; th e rst i s certai nl y i n sto re fo r m e ;
and the l ast you s e e I am pu rpos i n g to m ake
s ure o f without del ay
Y ou r sheet (the rst real s /z ec t fo r a long
t im e ) is wel l ll ed an d p leasantly
I
daresay you are ve ry busy at th i s p eriod till
i ng th e so il fo r p otatoes o r h arrowi n g i t ove r
co rn o r fa llo w in g i t o r do i n g twe nty th i n g s
besides : so I do n ot l ook fo r such m i n ute and
,

3 48

LE TTER S

OF

TH O/II A S

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

com p rehens iv e despatches yet as I shal l get by

and by O nl y be as l ibe ral as you can ; do
not fail to giv e m e s o m e t/cing an d I S h a l l be
satised
T here is n oth i ng d i fferen t i n m y cond itio n
s i nce I wrote las t to yo u
We m ust all gh t and gh t if we would
l iv e i n th is worl d I ofte n th i nk they are
happier th at gh t fo r sol i d necessary objects
than they th at v ex themselves i n vai n for dai nty
cates to sat is fy th e bou ndless crav i ngs of a
sp i ri t left u noccupi ed T o s e e them h u nti ng
and dri nk i ng and debauch i n g al l ways danci ng
dress i ng s trutt i ng not to m en tion you r great
co nquerors an d p roj ectors of various sorts
alas ! the m i n d is l angu id an d tem pest tossed
and d is co ntented do what o ne w ill
Y ou r
h usbandman keeps h ol d of H ealth any way ;
and I tel l you the possess io n of that bless i ng is
bette r than the emp i re o f the world I f you
could p en etrate i nto the hearts o f ou r poor
shambl i ng lai rds whether they be dandies or
j olly o nes and see the yellown ess an d atness
o f thei r i n ward landsca p e you woul d y wi th
.

82

TO A L

EX A N D E R

CA R L YL

3 49

doubl e speed back to you r fresh elds and b rac

i ng ai r ; gladly forsak i ng th e swi tch and qu izzer
an d other p la ib s i nvented by F rench barbers
and th e l ike fo r th e v enerabl e plough i nve nted
by Fath er A dam h imsel f and d ign ied by th e
usage of patriarchs and heroes and s t il l better
d ign ied i ntri ns ical ly as th e U phol der of t he
h uman race
B ut a tru ce wi th P h ilosophy
T here 18 no room fo r h er here
D o yo u hear anyth in g about J am ie J oh n
stone o f late ? I h ave i nqu ired often but w ith
out success Tell m e nex t ti m e : and c o lle c t
news fo r me from al l parts no matter how
e m
t
y
I
rej
o
ice
ove
r
the
l
ib
rary
and
i
ts
new
p
chance o f ex istence W atch ove r i t i n s p i te of
all oppos itio n W ri te long long : bel iev i ng me
to be al ways you r fai th ful B rothe r
l

T IIO M A s
W /z a t

CA R LYLE

i n th e nam e o f wonde r is become

,

o f J ack
1

lay t h i ng s baubles

LE TTERS

3 50

OF

LXV I I T
.

M OT H E R

h is

CA RL YLE

TH OllIA S

E DI NBURGH
[j

1 82 1

M a in h ill
.

S a t u rda y

ca n dle -lit

u ne 9
.

D E AR M O T H E R I h ave s tud ied it an d

nd you must agai n be conte nted w ith a h al f
shee t : my t im e is short and my task is great
i n proportion to i t
I read over you r l ittl e
letter with such feel i ngs as all you r l etters in
sp i re in me enl i vened i n th e presen t case by
the assu ran ce that you r heal th i s tolerab l e and
you r m i nd com fortabl e
M y dear M othe r I
trust P rov idence w il l lo ng bou nt i fully co nt i nue
thos e blessi ngs to u s fo r i t i s to us m o re than
to yoursel f that they are valuab l e
Y ou need not doubt that I shal l n d em p l oy
ment fo r you r ge ne rous a nx iety to serve m e :
i ndeed you can hardly requ i re mo re employ
m e nt I th i nk than what you n d i n those lots
of clothes and stuff that I am ever send i ng
hom e to busy you w ith T hese are bra wh ite
socks but really I needed them not A n d wh at
shall I s a y o f the cakes ? What but that I
h av e m umbled ove r fragments of them al l th e
MY

T O A L E X A IVD E R

1 82 1

CA RL YLE

b U H

afternoo n ? I suppose you p ut l iberal al low

th ey are s o much
a n c e s of butter i n th e dough
preferabl e not to the last sampl e but to th e
one before i t A s fo r th e butte r i t i s m os t
we l com e
M any th anks also my good
M other fo r you r bu ndl e of camom i le I hav e
l aid it by i n m y t ru nk and whethe r i t he l p the
stomach or not i t cannot fail to help the li c a ri
every t im e I look at i t
B u t alas ! S ee

how soo n ou r l i ttle ch i t chat i s ove r an d I

m ust take my leav e We S hal l m eet i n A ugust
P ray that i t be i n peace and com fort Good
l

n ight m y dear M other Y ou r affecti onate S o n

,

T H O S CAR LYLE
.

L XV I I I T A LE XA N D E R C AR LYLE
.

E DI NB RGH
U

M a in h ill
.

8 t ]; jzm e

82

M Y D E AR A L IC R

Y o u r l ette r came mos t

op p o rtunely to rel i eve my anx iet ies o n you r
account and also to em p loy two hou rs o f othe r
wise u n p rotabl e ti m e in answeri ng i t
I si g hed to l earn the fate o f p oo r ol d Rose
S he was a g ood beast i n he r day ; but beasts
,

LE TTERS

3 52

TH O/II A S

OF

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

are m ortal as w e ll as m en and l i ke C ato s s o n

ou r Rose has done h e r duty

S h e h as seen
you th rough the seed ti m e wh ich i f I may
j udge from p ersonal experie n ce h ere m ust h ave
bee n a task m o re than usually heavy We
hav e had s u c/z weath er !
E ver s i nce M ay
began a Wh i rlblas t and a D rench a Wh i rl
blast an d a D rench h ave been ou r sad v i ci s
Y esterday was a day of darkness ;
s it u de s
b ut it s e t th e wi n d i nto the west wh ere I
sol em nly pray i t m ay co nti nue a s long as
p oss ible
T hose easterl y b reezes w ith the i r
ne freights (of i cy vapou r sand straw dung
etc here ) are certai nly the most entertai n i ng
weath er o ne can wel l fal l i n wi th
I f you be
i ndigest ive and nervo us at th e t i m e it i s qu i te
su rp ris i n g
I rv i ng was w i th m e lately du ri ng the General
A ssembl y t i me T he m a n coul d not have been
k i n der to m e had he been a brother
He
woul d needs take m e to E ast L oth ian w i th h im

for a day o r two to s e e the wo rl d

We wen t
accord i ngly ; and though that wretched stom ach
was ful l of gall s o that I cou l d nei ther sleep

A LEXA ND ER CARL YLE

TO

1 82 1

3 53

nor eat to perfection I was hap p y as a l ark i n

M ay We retu rned l ast T h ursday I can s a y
l i ttl e about thei r husban dry though I o ften
though t had yo u bee n th ere what ne question s
you wou l d h av e p ut : but for the p eopl e I s a w
the nes t s ampl e i n th e w orl d
T here was
G ilbert B u rns b rother of that i m mortal plough

man th at wal ked i n glory o n the m ou ntai n

s ide beh i n d h is team
th ere was
B ut no
sheet (m uch less t /i is ) can be enough fo r them
I cam e back s o ful l o f j oy that I h ave done
noth i ngS i n ce but d ream of it
To m orrow I
must u p and s tudy for m an l ives not by
d ream i ng a lo n e T he poo r pape r yo u s e e i s
ov er w ith i t
H o p i ng that ou r F ather and
.

h i s w a memorable j our n ey for C arlyle H says of

it in his R mi i
i 7 4 I t w i n o n e of t hese i s i t s b y
I rv i ng h i msel f w i t hou t a n y com p a n y t ha t he t ook me ou t t o
H a dd i ngt o n [t he cou nt y t o w n of E as t L o t h i a n o n t he ba n ks
of t he T y n e ] t o w ha t has s i n ce bee n so m o m e nt ous t h rou g h
al l my subseque nt l i fe \V w al ked a n d t alked g oo d s i x
t ee n m i les i t he su nn y sum m er aft er n oo n
e n d of
Th
t he jour n ey a n d w ha t I w t here l l be memorable t o me
w h i le l i fe or t hou g h t e n dures
for t he n h e w J a n e W elsh
for t he rs t t i me
I w su p remely dys p e pti c a n d ou t of
heal t h t hose t h ree or fou r days a n d t hey w ere t he be gi nn ing
of a w l i fe
1

as

n s c e n ce s ,

a s

sa

W i

sa

a s

t o rrre

ne

VO L

2 A

3 54

E TTE RS

TH OM A S

0F

CA R L YL

M other and al l th e res t are wel l and happy

rem ai n as usual m y dear A l ick yo urs trul y
T C A R LY LE
.

LX I X T M i
o

ss

EL S H

Ha

E DI NBUR G H

82 1

dd i gt
n

on

8 m fu n e

82

M Y D E AR M ADAM It woul d h av e been a

pleasan t spectacl e fo r M eph istopheles o r any o f

h i s sooty bre th ren in whose eyes I u n der
stand th is restless l i fe o f ou rs appears l ike a
regu l ar F arce o nly s o m e w h a t d u ll at t i mes
to have su rveyed m y feel i ngs before O peni ng
you r parcel th e other n igh t and after open i ng
i t : to h ave s een wi th wh at hysterical speed I
u nd id th e gray cove r ; how I tu rned over the
poor tom es ; how I s hook them and searched
them th rough an d th rough ; and fou nd M iss

Wels h s
compl i me nts
to M r C a rslile a
gentl em an i n whom i t requ i red no smal l saga
ci ty to det ect m y own represen tat i ve ! U pon
the whole I suppose yo u d id well to t reat m e
I had d reamed and hoped i ndeed ; bu t
so
what right had I to ho p e o r eve n to wi sh
,

SS

TO M I

1 82 1

ELSH

3 55

T hose latter volu mes o f th e A lle m a gn e w il l

p erpl ex you I fear T he th i rd i n particular i s
very m ys teriou s ; now an d the n qu ite absu rd
D o not m i nd i t m u ch N o e hde n i s no t com e
the L o ndo n S macks bei ng all b ecalm ed
I
hope i t w il l arriv e i n ti m e to le t us begi n
L ess i ng and S ch il ler an d the rest agai nst
O ctober wi thout i mpedim ent
I shal l send i t
o ut i nstantly
I had a h u ndred thousand th i ngs to tel l
you ; but n o w I m ay not m entio n o ne o f t hem
Those c o mb /in t e n ts h av e pu t th e whole to igh t
al most e nt i rely there remai ns l i ttl e m ore than
as i t were a m el anchol y echo o f what h as been
,

In fa n t u m ve

e n t e s

a n im a e ,

i n l i m i n p ri m
e

E dward I rv i ng and I go down to A n nandal e

about th e rst o f A ugust ; he for two weeks I
for as m any m onths
I n the m ean ti m e i f there
i s any oth e r book that I can g et you o r any
k i nd o f se rvi ce wi th i n th e v e ry utmos t c i rcl e o f
m y ab il ity that can promo te you r sati s fact io n
,

N o e lrde n

'

from Lo n d o n for

(Ie rm a

i ss

G ra m m a

\Ve ls h

r,

h i ch C arlyle ha d ordered

3 56

E TTERS

OF

TI I OllIA S

CA RL YLE

182 1

eve n i n the sle nderest degree I do entreat

you earnestl y to l et m e k no w T h i s i s no t
m ere p a la bra ; i t o rigi nates i n a w is /i to serv e
you
wh i ch m ust remai n u n gra t i e d I p resume
b ut is not th e l ess heartfel t o n that accou n t

l
I am al ways
you r affect ionate
F arewell
me n d
T H O MA S CAR LYLE
,

I rvi n g s p acket was d ul y forwarded

T J O H N A C AR LYLE A n
LXX
.

E DIN BUR G H

zj

rot/

an

/y

82 1

M Y D E AR J A CK

I do not precisely
k n ow wh at week I S h a ll be down bu t i t can not
eas i ly be beyo nd th e th i rd o r s o fro m th is date
I am goi ng to r ide co nti n ua l ly when I
get hom e it is better th an wal k i ng : and often
as I have bee n baul ked I am not wi thout hope
o f nd i ng perm anen t be ne t from the opera
t ion A t al l events I m ust try : w i thout some
i m provemen t i n th e const i tution I am as good
a s dead i n th e eye o f l aw al ready
good
for
;
noth i ng bu t loll i ng abou t the room read ing
.

82 1

TO

7 OH

CARL YLE

3 57

p oet ry i magi n i ng and fan cy i ng and fretti ng an d

fum i ng all to no pu rpos e earthl y
I h av e
s t u died none o r w ritte n no ne fo r m any days
N eve rth eless I am m oderate l y com fortab l e o r
eve n happy at p resen t
M y co ndence i n
Fo rtu n e seem s to i ncrease as her offers to m e
d i m i n ish
I h av e very se l dom been poore r
th an I am o r m ore feebl e o r m o re sol i tary (i f
Rin dre d m i nds fo rm soc i ety ) ; an d yet I h ave
at no t i me fel t l ess d isposi tio n to k nuckl e to
l ow p ersons o r to abate i n any way o f th e stub
bo rn pu r p oses I h av e fo rm ed o r to swerve from
the t rack tho rny and desolate as i t i s wh i ch
l hav e ch osen fo r j ou rneyi ng th rough th is
wo rl d I fo resee m uch t roubl e b efo re m e b ut
t he re are j oys too : and j oy o r no t j oy I m ust
fo rward no w Wh e n yo u l au nch a boat u pon
the falls o f N iagara i t m ust go do w n the roari ng
catarac t thou g h rocks a nd rui n l ie wi th i n th e
p ro fou nd abyss belo w : and j ust s o i f a m an
taste th e m agic cu p o f l i teratu re h e m ust d ri n k
f i t fo r eve r though b itte r i n g red ie n ts e nough
be m ixed w i th th e l iquo r
D o n o t t o o p rou dl y l ook down u p o n the
,

LE TTER S

35 8

TH O/IIA S

OF

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

society you can nd i n A n nan B el ieve m y

M a t is a s a d error
I k now
sa d expe rien ce

we l l enough you r com rades are a feebl e fo l k

b ut stil l they are a fol k ; and depend upo n i t
you w ill repen t th is gloomy seclusio n o f yoursel f
from thei r accustom ed h au nts how barre n an d
beate n soever if you pers ist i n i t T here is
no real h app i ness J ack ou t of the com mo n
rout i nes o f l i fe H appy h e who can w a lk i n
them dai l y and yet ever be casti ng h is eye ove r
the s ubl im e scen ery w h i ch sol ic its u s from th e
far and e l evated reg io ns of ph ilosoph y ! I hav e
m isse d th i s rare comb i nat io n yo u observe and
I am pay i ng for i t
D o not you do l i kew ise !
B e soci al an d fran k and friendly w ith a l l honest
p ersons P ract i ce w il l soo n m ake i t easy an d
t he reward i s wholesom e and abu ndant G o
out I bi d you from th e ca m era o bscu ra o f B itty

go
ou
t
frequen
tly
and
tal
k
ta l k even
Ge e l ;
with th e J u ri st F ergusson I rv i ng o r any o f
them
When I get home I am go i ng to exh ib i t all
th is more at large and i n more lum i nous o rder
a p peal i ng to m ysel f as I m ay wel l do for
.

1 82 1

TO

7 0H N
:

CA RL YLE

3 59

proof experi me ntal o f a t heo ry wh i ch I can s o

eas ily demonstrate a p r io ri M uster al l your
cou nte r arguments be fore m y appearance A nd
S o soon as I ha v e got that
w /z e n w ill that be
beggarly art icl e Tlz e N et/i e rla n ds (fo r wh ich I c a n
nd n ext to no m aterials ) o ff my h ands
and
I began wo rk i ng at it some days s ince I rv i ng
and I spoke o f trav el l i ng by th e west some
wh ere we h av e not arranged i t yet B ut th is
N eth erlands i s th e mai n bar ; I h av e no flu e
i n m e for s uch th i ngs at presen t ye t i t m ust
be c la mpe re d togethe r i n som e s hape an d sh al l
i f I keep waggi n g Tel l D av i d F e rgusso n that
I am charm ed w i th h is manuscri pt ; i t i s the
p rett i est eve r was w ri tte n fo r th e E n cy clop ce dia
and perfectl y correct I sh all gi ve yo u enough
to wri te i n harvest a t presen t I have noth i ng
.

M y love to a ll at M a in h ill i ncl ud i ng N an cy

!
ou r cous i n i f sh e be w i th yo u still A d ieu
Y ou r affectio nate B rothe r
,

T H O MA S CA R LY LE

36o

LE TTERS

OF

LXX I T

CA RL YLE

TH OllI A S

h is

M OT H E R

82 1

M a in h ill
.

E D IN BUR G H Sa turday
,

[ju ly

82

e ve n

ing

D E AR M O T H E R I have still a few

m i nutes o n hand before the t im e o f del iveri ng
up m y packet to the care of Garth wai te ; I
can not eas ily employ them better than i n wri t
i ng a l i ne or two fo r your perusal A l i n e o r
two you s e e i s al l that th is paper w i ll ho l d ;
an d i n fact I do not need much more I a m
to s e e yo u ve ry soon w he n we s hall m eet o v er
a savou ry d ish of tea do w n tb e lz o u se ; and d is
cuss in co ncert al l th at has happened to each
of us s i n ce we parted T hat w il l be a m u ch
ner m ethod than the tardy plan o f exchangi ng
l etters wh i ch howeve r cop ious are a l ways a
very u n fai th ful and i nadequate emblem of the
truth
I care not how soo n I were down at M ai n
h ill : fo r th is c ity i s fast getti ng v ery n u
p l easant
T h e s mel l o f i t o r rather the
h und red thousand s mells are al together pesti
A nd th en the dust
le n t ia l at c ertai n hours
MY

1 82 1

HIS

TO

36 1

IlI O TH E R

and more than al l togeth er t h e n o ise o f m any

ani mals an d m any carts an d sh w ive s in
n umerab l e ; n ot to men tio n th e m en s ell i ng
water (of wh ich th ere i s a th i rst and a scarc i ty
here ) arm ed w i th l ong b attered t i n horns that
utter forth a vo ice to w h ich th e com b i ned
m us ic of a n ass a hog an d fty m agpi es al l
bl ended i nto o ne rich m elody were b ut a fool
T he m an wakens m e every mo rn i ng about
s eve n o f th e clock w i th a full o w in g screech
that o fte n m akes m e al mos t t remble
I hope yo u are getti ng i nto b ette r h eal th
no w whe n the weather i s b righ t an d in v igo ra t
i ng H ave you ever go t down to s e a bath i ng
?
th is sum m er
Y o u shoul d t ry i t by a ll m ea n s
I t i s qui te a spec i c to m e ; i f I l ived b y the
shore I am al mos t certai n I shoul d recove r
com p l etel y
T h is las t w i nte r an d sp ri ng I
have had mo re l i g h t th ro w n u p o n you r various
i nd is p os i tions th an I eve r g o t befo re I m ay
say I nev e r t ill latel y k new how to p i ty you as
I ou g h t
T hese ne rves whe n th ey get de
ranged are th e m os t te rri c th i n g i magi nabl e
I do e n treat you m y dear M othe r to take the
,

LE TTERS

3 62

OF

CA RL YLE

TH OllIA S

182 1

most m i nute and sc rupulous charge of you r

heal th for the sake o f u s all N o o ne can
t e ll what you have e nd ured al ready take care !
take care !
A s to n ews o r anyth i n g o f that sort you
wil l nd all I h av e to s a y i n th e boys letters
A t any rate you s e e th e paper is n i sh ed an d
I m ust w i thdraw G iv e m y l ove to my F ather
an d all th e w ee tb ings not fo rgetti ng N ancy i f
my
d
ear
s h e is stil l w i th you I am al ways
(
M other ) your affect ionate S on
.

T H O S CAR LY LE
.

L X X I I T A LE XA N D E R C A R LYLE
.

E D INBUR G H

M a in h ill

9 t/z A u gu s t

82

A L I CK I h av e merely a few
m i nutes to wri te you i n ; and m y h ead is turn
i ng sadly d u ri ng th e operat io n for I have
bee n d i n i ng and ga a a ing w i th one N i chol a
M athem at i cal Teache r here B ut hal f a m i nute
woul d su f ce to say al l m y s a y ; w h i ch is o nly
to tel l you that I des ign to com e hom e forth
w i th that i s to s a y o n M o nday next the 1 3 th
M Y D E AR

182 1

TO A L

E X A ND E R

CA R L YL

3 63

o f A ugus t i n the year o f G race eighteen h u n

d red an d twen ty one I shal l mou nt th e D um
fries m ail coach abou t eigh t o f th e clock o n
that importan t mo rn i ng : and I e xp e c t to be
i n M o ffat (no m i racl e occu rri ng to stop m e )
abou t fou r i n th e afternoon
The refore m y dear A l i ck yo u wi ll proceed
i nstantl y o n receipt o f th is and attach th e
q uad ruped D um pl e to the rack gi v i ng h im
what corn and hay h e is abl e to consum e ;
that s o o n M o nday m o rn i ng th at famo us
charger m ay be strengthened to u nde rtake the
j ou rney to M offat and t ra nsport m y carcass
dow n to M a in h ill upo n h i s back
W i th i n th e l ast th ree weeks I have wri tten
alm ost as m uch a s I had ever w ri tte n be fo re i n
the whole course o f m y natu ral l i fe N o t only
my own two st i p ul ated A rticl es but a n ot/i e r
wh i ch t h e ve ry sh i fty E d ito r called u p o n m e
not to w rite o nly bu t to m a n ufa c t u re th e p ro p e r
A u th o r one E rsk i ne a L ai rd hav i n g fal le n
s ick o r g one s tu p id (I should say s t i r/zde r )
and not bei ng abl e to n ish what Ire had a l
read y begu n and eve n g o t p ri n te d
It was
,

3 64

L E TTER S

s u c /z

OF

CA RL YLE

TH O/IIA S

182 1

a j ob B ut I h ave done i t al l now ; and

spi te o f that wretched bog I am merry as a
m al tman
T hey are pri n ti ng i t ev en now ;
and
you but saw m y tabl e how i t i s covered
w i th m anusc ri p ts and rst cop ies and proof
sh eets and pens an d s n uffers an d tumble rs o f
water an d p ipes of tobacco ! B u t no m atter
O n M onday m orn i ng then you w i l l s tart
about n i ne o clock and m eet m e poi ntedly I f
can
not
com
e
even
J
am
i
e
woul
d
do
b
ut
o
u
;
y
you woul d do better S houl d ci rcumstan ces
p rev en t you h owever do not m i n d it : I S hall
wai t t ill el even an d the n ascend the Glasgow
m ai l appeari ng i n that case at M a in h ill b e
fore d uck ris i ng
I was goi ng to b i d you ca ll for t/z is letter
o n S aturd ay ; b u t I am a S cot an d no I rish m an
to produce bu lls ; therefore I trust to F ate that
you w il l get th e n ews o n S u nday at farthest
Good n i g ht m y d ear A l i ck ! I am amaz
in gly sl ee p y b ut no twi ths tand i ng al ways you r
affect io nate B rother
T H O MA S CAR LY L E
.

TO III I S S

82 1

LXX I I I T Mi
.

ss

ELSH

EL S H

Ha

M A IN H ILL,
1 st

36 5

dd i gt
n

on

CC L E F E C

S ep te m be r

82

HAN

D E AR M ADAM O u agai n notic i ng th is

crabbed h and o f m i ne I fear you are ready to
exclai m w i th som e feel i ngs o f surprise an d d is
?
pl easu re : W hy t roubles t thou m e
To th i s
very natu ral quest io n i t were ted ious and dif
cul t to make any satis facto ry reply
T he
causes wh ich give motio n to m y pen at p resen t
are too v ague and compl icated for bei n g d is
c ussed in the p reface to a s i ngl e letter ; a nd
hardl y o f i mportance enou g h to a seco nd pe r
so n fo r be i ng d iscussed anywhe re P erhaps i t
i s m o re ex p ed ient as i t i s certai nl y eas ie r to
th ro w mysel f o n you r good natu re at once ; to
suppl icate you r i nd ul g e nce if l p rove ti resome
you r fo rg iveness i f I be s o u n fo rtunate as to
o ffend Y o u k no w wel l enou g h i t i s far from
my i nten tio n to d o ei the r : an d cases are every
day aris i n g i n wh i ch a g ene rous p erson nds i t
j us t to l et the i n nocence o f th e p u rpose ser v e
as an excuse fo r the faul ti ness o f the deed
MY

LE TTERS

3 66

TH OI IIA S

OF

CA RL YLE

82

U po n th is p ri nci p le i f o n n o other I entreat

you be n ot angry wi th m e ! If you s a w i nto
m y v i ews p roper l y I am s ure you woul d not
T h e t ruth is i n th is remote d istri ct where
so
few s ens i bl e obj ects occu r to arres t m y
attent io n wh i le I am too s i ck and i ndolen t t o

search for i ntellectual obj ects the I magi nation

i s th e bus i es t facul ty an d S hadows of the past
and th e future are nearly all I h ave to occupy
mysel f w i th B ut i n th e m ulti tude o f ant ic ipa
t io ns and rem em brances i t i s qu i te co nce i vabl e
that you r i mage S houl d be o ccas ionally presen t
wi th m e and all m en love to tal k o r at l eas t to
wri te o n s ubj ects about wh i ch they often th i nk
N o r is i t m erel y as an absent friend that I
con template you and h av e a ki nd o f c l aim to
co nverse w i th you
I t i s i mposs ible for m e
w i thout m any p ec u lia r em otions to beho l d a
bei ng l i ke you e nteri ng s o devoted l y upo n the
p ath o f L etters wh i ch I mysel f h av e found to
be as ful l of dange r as i t is of beauty : and
though my own progress i n i t b ears but ia
d i fferen t testi m ony to m y qual i cat ions as a
G u ide I may be allowed to offe r you the resul t
,

T O III I S S

1 82 1

ELSH

3 67

of my experi ence such as i t is and to p ro

nou nce th e Good s p eed ! wh ich I wis h you

i n s ilence s o frequently an d s o cord ially
I am no t now go i ng to dep rec iate you r
stud ies o r tease yo u w ith adv ices to abando n
them
I sai d enough o n that s ide o f the ques
t io n whe n w e were together l ast ; an d stup idly
as nat iv e dul ness exaggerated by a sl eepless
week an d th e fat contented prese nce o f M r
B coul d m ake m e say i t : an d after al l I
bel iev e my hab i tual op i n io n is not of that so rt
To m e thos e p u rsu i ts h av e bee n the source o f
m uch d isqu ie t ; bu t also o f some e n v iable e nj oy
m en t i f th ey have added a darke r shade to the
gloo m o f m y obscu re des ti ny I ough t n ot to
forget th at h e re an d the re they ha ve ch eque red
i t wi th a ray o f heave nl y b ri g h tness wh i ch
see med to m ake am ends fo r all T h e case i s
s im il ar w i th ev e ry o ne that follows l i teratu re
i t i nc reases ou r sens i bil i ty to p l easu re as wel l as
p ai n i t e nlarges the c i rcl e o f obj ects ca p abl e o f
affectin g us ; and th us at once dee p ens an d
div e rs i e s th e ha pp i nes s and th e m isery o f ou r
l ife T he latte r i n a h i g he r rat io I fear : yet
,

LE TTERS

3 68

OF

CA RL YLE

TH O/II A S

1 82 1

h ere i t i s ofte n blamed u nj ustl y ; th ere are per

t u rb e d souls to w hose u nres t i t gives d i rection
rather than ex istence : and though th e charge
were al together j ust wh at cou l d be m ade o f i t
H app i ness is no t ou r nal aim i n th i s worl d
o r poo r S h andy woul d be the nes t character i n
th e natio n I t is th e compl ete dev elopm en t of
o ur facul ties th e i ncrease i n capaci ty as s e n
t i en t and th i nk i ng creatu res that co nsti tutes the
rs t wan t : an d as m en tal excelle nce to th i n k
well and fee l nobly is doubtless the h igh est o f
al l attai nm ents s o th e m en tal nou rishm ent
wh i ch l iterature affords as ri chly as any obj ect
o f h u m an act i v i ty shoul d s tand among the
foremost o f ou r des i res N o Uris h m e n t o f any
k i n d m ay i ndeed by i nj ud icious appl i cation be
co n verted i nto po iso n an d m ental nouri sh me nt
form s no except io n to the rul e B ut i f i ts a bu se
m ay l ead to isol atio n from ou r breth re n and to
every speci es o f wretch ed ness its pruden t u se
does no t o f necess i ty excl ude from any oth er
,

E d i ti o n
W

i ss
,

V ,
.

elsh s d o g S ee C arlyle s M i ll i
67
) for t h i s S ha n dy s i nt erv i e w s

s ce

al t er S co tt !

a n es

(L i brary
w

i th S i r

82

TO

lI I S S

IVE LS H

3 69

sou rce o f hap p i n ess

O ften i t i s true th e
s tud ious m an wanders i n sol itude over rocky
and tempestuous regions ; but someti mes a
l ovel y scene w il l s tri ke h i s eye as well as that
o f anoth er and touch h i m m ore keenly than i t
does another
so m e s weet s equestered dale
e mbosomed cal mly among the barre n mou n
tai ns o f l i fe so verdan t and sm il i ng and bal my
so l ike a hom e and resti ng pl ace fo r the
wearied spi rit that eve n th e s i g ht of i t i s happ i
ness : to rea c /i i t woul d be too mu ch ; woul d
b ri n g E de n back ag ai n i nto the world and
m ake D eath to be i nd eed what cowards hav e
n amed h i m th e enemy o f man O h that i t lay
w i th m e to S ho w you th e m eans of secu ring al l
the be nets to be fou nd i n suc h p u rsu i ts w i th
out any O f the ha rm ! B ut i t may n ot be T he
l aw o f ou r ex iste nce i s that g ood and ev il are
i nse p arabl e al ways : th e h eart that can taste o f
ra p tu re m ust taste o f to rm ent also and nd the
el eme n ts o f both i n all th in g s i t e n g a g es wi th
N eve rthel ess I cou nsel yo u to p ersev ere I n
y ou r advantag es natu ral and accidental the re
e x is t the mate rial s O fa g lo rious l i fe : and i f i n
.

VO L

2
.

LE TTERS

37o

OF

TH O/II A S

CA RL YLE

182 1

cul t ivati ng th e gi fts o f your m i nd you can bu t

observe the Go lde n m ea n wh ich i t i s s o easy to
tal k o f s o d i f cul t to n d if i n stri vi ng after
what is great and p roduct ive o f honou r yo u do
not t oo w idely dev iate from what is commo n
and product iv e o f com fort the resul t will not
st ill b e u n m i xed bu t I sh al l j o i n w i th thousands
i n rej oi ci ng at i t T he hazard i s great th e
al ternat iv e appall ing ; b ut I augu r w e ll
M y sh eet i s do ne wh i l e m y s ubj ect i s scarce
begu n S hal l I not have another opportu n ity
to e nter o n i t ? I stil l entertai n a rm tru s t
that you are to read S ch ill er and Goeth e wi th
m e i n O ctober I never yet m et w i th any to
rel ish thei r beaut ies an d sym pathy is the very
soul of l i fe T h is lette r is amaz i ngly stup id
I t is e nough i f i t recal l to you r m emo ry wi th
ou t d ispl easu re o ne who des i res you r wel fare i n
ev ery sense as ho nestly as h e can desi re any
th i ng Y ou r s i ncere friend
,

T H O MA S CAR LYLE

82

TO

III R

LXX I V T
.

R O B ER T

Mr

Mr T M
.

II I T C H E L L

37 1

R M I T C H ELL (
y E d i b gh )

u rra

c a re o f

u r

M A IN H ILL, 3 d

O cto b er

82

D E A R M I T C H ELL I was down at R uth

wel l the oth er week and got the two books
wh i ch you s o pu nctuall y l eft fo r m e ; but as th e
prom ise reco rded o n th e S l i p of pape r stuck i n to
K e ill seem s l ikel y to be rath er tardy i n i ts
full ment I am go i ng to i nterru p t you r repose
w i th a reason u nco n nected wi th borrowi n g o r
l end i ng
I owe you an a p ol ogy fo r m y u n
ce remon ious desertio n o f ou r a p poi ntm ent : but
I su p pose you have al ready excused m e
M u rray wil l hav e told you the cause o f
m y fail ure ; ho w I we n t i n to Galloway and
rode and ran i n al l d i rections the re wi thou t
m easu re
H ow coul d I wi thstand such an
o pp o rtun ity o f g add i ng ? Y ou can not bu t
fo rg ive m e
I n ou r p eram bulatio ns th rou g h that A t tica
o f S cotland th e l Iis t o ria n and I d id no t fai l
MY

s u rr a

l ro b a b ly In t ro du ct i o m l ve ru m l by sic a m

S ee Le tt er X Il

LE TTERS

37 2

TH O/II A S

OF

CA RL YL E

182 1

to rev is i t the i n tended scen e o f your d idacti c

labou rs and to m use a l ittle o n th e fruits w h ich
th e T ree o f K nowledge p ru ned and watered
by you r steady hand is l ikel y to produce to
you rsel f an d th e yo uth of K i rkcudb right O u r
au g ury was favourabl e : and I rej oi ced in
d iv id uall y i n th e thou g h t that my ol dest
nearly m y o nly C olle g e friend had fou n d so
fai r an arena fo r exh ib i ti ng h is talents i n th e
way most agreeabl e to h i msel f and acqu i ri ng
som e portio n o f those rewards wh i ch ho nes t
i ndustry h as the bes t o f al l righ ts to claim
O f th e Gallov i d ian C api tal I k now noth i ng i n
part icular : but I can eas ily pred ic t that i n com
m e n c in g you r funct ion s and ev en i n proceed i ng
w i th them regularly you w ill hav e m uch to
stri ve with wh ich you r p rev ious experi ence
has m ade yo u bu t i mperfectl y aware o f
H uman n ature is n early the same ev ery
whe re : and th e t i e by wh ich a s choo l master
is con nected w ith h is em pl oyers i s at all ti mes
of s o g all i ng a k i nd that there is no wo nde r
both parties s hould w i nce unde r i t occas ionally
B usy bod ies wi ll be forward to offe r yo u
,

82

T O I II R

RO B ER T

III I T C H E L L

\U

adv i ces remonstrances com p lai nts ; the com

l
i
n o f you r i deal schemes wi ll be m arred
e
t
o
p
i n p art (i t i s but th e con t i nual dest i ny of m an I)
b y the u ngai nl i ness of you r m aterials ; an d at
rst i t i s l i kely you m ay l angu ish u nde r the
wan t o f congen ial society and s u c/i a hom e as
you enj oyed at Ruthwel l M y o wn experi ence
o f these th i n g s is tri i ng and u nfavou rabl e ;
yet I do not recko n th e p roblem o f succeedi ng
i n a school an d learn in g to remedy o r e ndure
al l i ts gri evances on e o f extrem e d i f cul ty
F i rst as i n every u ndertak i ng i t i s necessary
o f cou rse that yo u w is/t to s ucceed ; that you
d eterm i ne rml y to le t noth i ng b reak your

equan im i ty that you lay as id e eve ry we ight

you r p h ilosoph i cal p roj ects you r shyness o f
m an ne r (i f you are cu rsed wi th that qual i ty )
you r j eal ous se nse o f i nde p endence eve ry
th in g i n s ho rt that c i rcum stances may p oi nt
out a s detri mental to you r i nte res t w i th the
p eo p l e ; and then be i n g th us balanced and s e t
i n motion you r sole a fte r d uty is to ru n w i th
p atie nce you will reach the g o al u ndoubtedly
P ubl ic favou r i n some sen se i s requ is ite fo r all
,

LE TTERS

37 4

OF

TH OIIIA S

CA RL YLE

1 82 1

me n ; bu t a Teache r ough t co nstan tly to bear

i n m i nd th at i t is l i fe an d b reath to li im
he nce i n com pariso n w ith i t noth i ng shou l d be
cl ear to h i m h e must be meek and k i ndl y and
so ft o f speech to eve ry o n e how absu rd and
offens iv e soev er T o th e same obj ect h e mus t
al so freque ntl y sac ri ce the real p rogress o f h is
p u pils i f i t can not be gai ned w ithou t affecting
thei r p eace o f m i nd T h e advantages of g reat
l earn i ng are s o vagu e and d istant the m iseries
of co nstan t wh i n ing are s o i m med iate and m an i
fest that not o ne parent i n a t housan d can take
th e former i n exch ange for th e l atter wi th
p atience not to speak o f thank ful ness Fo r
the sam e reason he m us t (i f the fash io n of th e
place requi re i t) g o about and v i s it h is em
l
rs
h
e
must
cook
them
an
d
court
them
by
o
e
p y
every i n noce nt mode wh ich the ever vary ing
postu re o f c i rc umstances w ill sugges t to a m i nd
o n the outlook fo r the m
T h i s seem s poor
ph ilosophy bu t i t i s t rue T h e most d il igent
del i ty i n d isch argi ng you r duties w ill not serv e
you b y i tsel f N ev er fo rget th is it i s m athe
m a t ic a lly certai n
I f m en were angels o r even
,

82

T O AI R

RO B ER T

lI I T CH E L L

A
(

\U

pu rely i ntellectual bei n g s hav ing j udgm ent and

no van i ty o r other pass ion i t m ight b e d i fferen t
bu t as i t i s the case becomes m uch more com
p l icated few very fe w had not rathe r be
cheated than desp ised an d eve n i n the com mo n
walks o f l i fe p rob ity is o fte n left to rot w ithou t
so
m uch as bei ng p raised I t h as the a lge t
w i thout th e la u da t u r ;
wh ich is a mos t sorry
b usi ness doubtless
I h ave w ritten down al l th is m y dear
M i tchell not because I thought you w a n te d
i t ; o n the co n trary I i magi ne you r talents
and man ners and tem p e r p rom is e you a d is
t in gu is h e d success ; but because I though t the
frui t o f m y pai n ful experience m i g h t be wo rth
s o m e t /i in
to
you
and
that
som
eth
i
ng
howeve
r
g
small I was anx io us to o ffe r yo u T ake i t
an d cal l i t the w ido w s m it e i f yo u l ike It i s
from you r friend
,

W ill

LY I I:

you l et m e k now where you are and

,

rob i t as

Ia

da t u

r c

JU

V I NA I
.

Sa l

74

376

LE TTERS

OF

CA RL YLE

TH OI II A S

182 1

whe n you i ntend com i n g S outhward ? I m ust

s e e you be fo re you m ov e westwa rd : I k n ow
not whe n I S h all go to E d i nbu rgh
I ts reek
and s tench are h ateful to m e
0
.

E N D OF V O L

Pr i n

t e d by

C LA R K

E di n bu rgh